South Carolina defensive line coach Deke Adams issued a passionate defense of defensive end Jadeveon Clowney's two-tackle performance vs. Arkansas, noting the impact he had on the game beyond statistical validation.
Adams is at it again this week, although it's not as though Clowney was panned for his most recent performance against Tennessee. In fact, Clowney turned in perhaps his best performance of the season, including 2.5 tackles for loss, in a much-anticipated matchup with Volunteers standout left tackle Antonio Richardson. Still, Adams again defended Clowney's efforts this week, as the Gamecocks prepare for undefeated Missouri.
"People have been on JD all year," Adams said, according to thetandd.com. "He's played hard every game. There's not one time he's stepped on the field that I say, 'OK, you just didn't play hard.' Not one time this season. If you looked at the film and sat down and watched every play and saw the things people were doing to him, I don't think anybody else would say that, either."
Adams called Clowney "one of the most schemed-up players in the country," in reference to offensive game plans accounting for Clowney's presence in every way possible.
Clowney has 19 tackles, which rank 11th on the team, and two sacks in six games, though the Gamecocks have played seven. Clowney missed the team's win over Kentucky.
Sacks may come even tougher for Clowney the rest of the season, as the South Carolina schedule closes with some mobile opposing quarterbacks, including Missouri's Maty Mauk, Mississippi State's Dak Prescott, Florida's Tyler Murphy and Clemson's Tajh Boyd.
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