Jan. 9, 2012

University of South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney has been named to the 11th annual Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) Freshman All-America team, it was announced today.

Clowney, a 6-6, 254-pound freshman from Rock Hill, S.C., finished his first season in the Garnet & Black with 36 tackles, including a dozen tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks. He was also credited with five forced fumbles and six quarterback hurries.

The true freshman who was the nation’s top recruit a year ago was previously named an honorable mention All-American by SI.com, was the FoxSportsNext.com National Freshman Defensive Player of the Year, and was the SEC Freshman of the Year according to the league’s coaches. In addition, he was a first-team Freshman All-American according to Sporting News, FoxSportsNext.com, Rivals.com, CollegeFootballNews.com, CBSSports.com and Phil Steele.

The FWAA’s Freshman All-America team and coach are selected by an 11-person panel of nationally-prominent writers led by Mike Griffith of the Knoxville News Sentinel.