South Carolina football legend signing with new NFL team

South Carolina football legend Jadeveon Clowney has a new NFL deal. On Sunday afternoon, following a week of back-and-forth, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones announced that his team was signing the talented veteran rusher.

Clowney, now entering year 12 in the NFL, has also played for the Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, and Carolina Panthers. He made three Pro Bowls with the Texans and earned an All-Pro nod in Houston, too.

With Dallas, Clowney will compete for a prominent role on a defense that needs some pass rush juice. Through two games of the 2025 season, the Cowboys have three total sacks. During the preseason, America’s Team traded away All-Pro EDGE Micah Parsons. Clowney also brings some strong ability to set the edge in the run game, something the Cowboys’ defense needs, as well.

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Despite playing just three years in garnet and black, Clowney ranks at the top or near the top in program history in sacks, tackles for loss, and forced fumbles. His best game came in a 4.5-sack performance against Clemson. He later followed that up with “The Hit” against Michigan in his very next game. Clowney was a two-time All-American, once earning the mark in unanimous fashion.

Clowney’s 2012 campaign is one of the best defensive years in program history. The Hendricks Award winner as the nation’s top defensive end, he logged 12.5 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss. Both of those numbers are all-time, single-season Gamecock records.

Following his days in Columbia, Clowney earned the distinction of being the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He was the second top selection from the University of South Carolina, joining Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers.

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