South Carolina star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is expected to miss Saturday's spring game and could potentially miss the rest of spring practice, Gamecocks defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward told to ESPN.com. Clowney, an All-American and reigning Hendricks Award winner, may be shut down due to neck and back pain and a "slight concussion".
"South Carolina fans should not be concerned at all," Ward said in a phone interview with ESPN. "He would be cleared to play if it was a regular season game on Saturday. Jadeveon plays with a reckless abandon. He will not pull himself back on the field this year. That's not how he practices or plays. He will be full bore in the fall."
There are huge expectations for Clowney entering the 2013 season, including wide speculation that he will be a serious Heisman Trophy candidate. Last season, Clowney tied for second nationally in sacks (13) and tackles for loss (23.5). The rising junior ranks fifth in school history with 21.0 sacks and is tied for second with 35.5 tackles for loss.
Many draft analysts, including ESPN's Mel Kiper and Todd McShay, have said that Clowney would be a unamimous No. 1 overall pick if the rising junior were eligible for the 2013 NFL Draft in April.
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