FOX Sports Exclusive
Clowney: I will be eligible
Share This Story
ROCK HILL, S.C.
After months of being asked where he will attend college, Jadeveon Clowney, the nation’s top high school football recruit this year, answered the question Monday morning when he chose South Carolina.
But now the 6-foot-6, 247-pound defensive end from South Pointe High School faces another question that’s sure to be just as persistent: Will he meet the NCAA’s minimum academic requirement to be able to play next season for the Gamecocks?
In an interview with FOXSports.com, Clowney said he will be eligible to play at South Carolina next season and detailed his academic record, which included poor grades early in his high school career. When a reporter asked to review his transcript, he said it was unavailable.
“I will qualify,” Clowney said. “No doubts. Everybody know that.”
Citing two people familiar with Clowney’s academic record, an article in The New York Times on Saturday questioned whether he will qualify. In the article, Troy Davis, the coach at Hargrave Military Academy, a postgraduate school in Chatham, Va., said he had reviewed Clowney’s transcript and described it as comparable to those of other players who did not meet the NCAA’s requirements.
Davis told The New York Times that Clowney’s transcript had “a lot of D’s on there” and one of Clowney's teachers told the newspaper that “he may play it down to the line about qualifying.”
Clowney said his core grade-point average is currently in the 2.5 to 2.6 range and that he has the equivalent of an ACT test score sum of 64.
Based on that ACT test score, Clowney would need exactly a 2.6 core grade-point average to be eligible to play next season, according to the NCAA’s website.
He said he made straight A’s last semester at South Pointe High and will retake the ACT on Feb. 28 and another time after that. Currently, he said, he is retaking freshman English and geometry from his sophomore year to replace D grades that he made in both classes.
Clowney said he is also taking a statistics class at night through Rock Hill School District Three, the same district that his high school is part of. He attributes his poor grades early in high school to his initial desire to do only what it would take to graduate and said he didn’t have plans to play college football back then.
“I was in the streets a lot,” Clowney said. “The streets were everything to me.”
On Monday, Clowney told FOXSports.com that he has a learning disability, the first time he has publicly acknowledged it. A source familiar with Clowney's academic situation confirmed he was diagnosed with his learning disability in middle school by Rock Hill School District Three.
Because of it, Clowney receives extra time on the ACT and has that option for his school tests.
“Everybody learns differently,” Clowney said.
More Stories From Thayer Evans
Trending Now
-
Skier dies after falling 2,000 feet
A Finnish man died after falling about 2,000 feet into a crevasse while skiing on Ala... -
Knicks guard J.R. Smith arrested
Miami Beach police say a New York Knicks player has been arrested on a bench warrant ... -
In general, Shaq not suited for GM job
Successful general managers have qualities Shaq lacks. -
Celtics G Bradley out for season
Boston Celtics guard Avery Bradley is done for the season. -
Sources: Jones, O's near megadeal
The Orioles, building on their early season momentum, are close to signing center fie...
NCAA FB Videos
Fiutak: Remembering Bill Stewart
Posted: May 21, 2012
Pete Fiutak remembers former West Virginia head coach Bill Stewart.
Pete Fiutak remembers former West Virginia head coach Bill Stewart.
Scout.com: USC nabs top RB
Posted: May 15, 2012
Scott Kennedy on what five-star recruit Ty Isaac means to USC.
Scott Kennedy on what five-star recruit Ty Isaac means to USC.
Hundley getting comfortable
Posted: May 06, 2012
UCLA QB Brett Hundley talks about competing for the starting job.
UCLA QB Brett Hundley talks about competing for the starting job.
NCAA FB Headlines
More Than Sports on MSN
Fox Sports Store
| itemName | itemURL | imageSrc | price | itemDescription |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nike Florida Gators Ladies Ash Classic Full Zip Hoody Sweatshirt | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Florida_Gators/browse/featuredproduct/206368/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_206000/FF_206368_xl.jpg&w=100 | 54.95 | Nike Florida Gators Ladies Ash Classic Full Zip Hoody Sweatshirt |
| Nike USC Trojans Cardinal Vault Legacy 91 Swoosh Flex Hat | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_USC_Trojans/browse/featuredproduct/454858/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_454000/FF_454858_xl.jpg&w=100 | 19.95 | Nike USC Trojans Cardinal Vault Legacy 91 Swoosh Flex Hat |
| adidas Nebraska Cornhuskers #94 Replica Football Jersey - Scarlet | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Nebraska_Cornhuskers/browse/featuredproduct/477038/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_477000/ff_477038_xl.jpg&w=100 | 59.95 | adidas Nebraska Cornhuskers #94 Replica Football Jersey - Scarlet |
| Nike Florida State Seminoles (FSU) Ladies My School Local T-shirt - Garnet | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Florida_State_Seminoles/browse/featuredproduct/520956/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_520000/ff_520956_xl.jpg&w=100 | 19.95 | Nike Florida State Seminoles (FSU) Ladies My School Local T-shirt - Garnet |
| Nike Kansas State Wildcats Classic Logo Long Sleeve T-Shirt - Purple | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Kansas_State_Wildcats/browse/featuredproduct/681476/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_681000/ff_681476_xl.jpg&w=100 | 23.95 | Nike Kansas State Wildcats Classic Logo Long Sleeve T-Shirt - Purple |
| Nike Alabama Crimson Tide #3 2012 BCS National Championship Game Replica Football Jersey - Crimson | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Alabama_Crimson_Tide/browse/featuredproduct/771453/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_771000/ff_771453_xl.jpg&w=100 | 64.95 | Nike Alabama Crimson Tide #3 2012 BCS National Championship Game Replica Footbal.. |
| Nike Ohio State Buckeyes New Coach T-Shirt - Scarlet | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Ohio_State_Buckeyes/browse/featuredproduct/775105/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_775000/ff_775105_xl.jpg&w=100 | 24.95 | Nike Ohio State Buckeyes New Coach T-Shirt - Scarlet |
| Nike LSU Tigers Ash 2012 BCS National Championship Target Knock Out Performance Pullover Hoodie Sweatshirt | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_LSU_Tigers/browse/featuredproduct/776277/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_776000/ff_776277_xl.jpg&w=100 | 69.95 | Nike LSU Tigers Ash 2012 BCS National Championship Target Knock Out Performance.. |
| Nike Oklahoma State Cowboys 2012 Fiesta Bowl Champions Locker Room T-Shirt - Charcoal | http://www.foxsportsshop.com/FOX_Oklahoma_State_Cowboys/browse/featuredproduct/780963/source/prsp_ca | http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_780000/ff_780963_xl.jpg&w=100 | 24.95 | Nike Oklahoma State Cowboys 2012 Fiesta Bowl Champions Locker Room T-Shirt - Cha.. |
Member Comments
Please note by clicking on "add a comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.