Jadeveon Clowney, a former standout defensive lineman out of South Carolina, is set to become a very high NFL draft pick, and could go No. 1 overall to the Houston Texans. If so, that would be a big mistake according to Auburn defensive end Dee Ford.
While the debate is largely centered around Houston taking Clowney over one of the three major quarterback prospects, Ford thinks Clowney's outright overrated. "I'm better [than Clowney]," Ford said. "Let's put it like this. People like to talk about size all the time. Size is pretty much overrated in my eyes."
Ford then compared himself to some of the game's elite players, and cited his resemblance to them as opposed to the monstrous Clowney.
"You can look at guys like Robert Mathis, Elvis Dumervil, Von Miller. These are 6-2 guys and under. People are just looking at the fact that [Clowney] is a physical specimen. Honestly if you watch the film, he plays like a blind dog in a meat market basically."
While Clowney said at the Combine that he wants to become one of the greatest players ever, his work ethic was questioned during this past season with the Gamecocks. Ford, on the other hand, played up how hard he works to close the gap in size between he and higher prospects.
"I play with a lot of technique," Ford said. "I watch a lot of film. These are the things I do, and it shows up."
The hard work did indeed reveal itself last season, as Ford compiled 10.5 sacks, 29 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, with two forced fumbles for the SEC champion Tigers. Still, Scouts, Inc. doesn't agree with Ford's self-assessment, ranking him as the No. 37 prospect in the current crop.
Meanwhile, ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay projects Clowney will indeed be taken first overall by the Texans.
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