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Jadeveon Clowney surprised at the attention he’s getting

Jadeveon Clowney

Former University of South Carolina football great Jadeveon Clowney watches the action from court side during the first half of an NBA basketball game between the Houston Rockets and Charlotte Bobcats in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, March 24, 2014. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)

AP

Jadeveon Clowney expected questions about his effort.

He didn’t necessarily expect the round-the-clock attention that was coming his way, however.

Clowney told Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer that all the attention was getting to be a little much.

“People tell me every day something new,” Clowney told the Observer on Monday. “They see me going No. 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1. I just have to wait ’til that day comes. Everyone, just stop telling me about it.

“Growing up I just wanted to play in the NFL. I didn’t know all this was going to come with it.”

At the moment, Clowney’s living in Charlotte while training, and trying to keep a low profile. Of course, that’s hard now that he’s become a celebrity, one who met Michael Jordan after sitting courtside at a Charlotte Bobcats game last night.

But Clowney’s performance last season at South Carolina was more Jordan-as-G.M. than Jordan-as-player, as he dropped from 13.0 sacks his sophomore year to 3.0.

“People want to know what’s going on,” he said. “I don’t question my motor. I feel like my motor is very good. Teams will find out very soon.”

Despite criticisms that feel invented for the sake of having a criticism, Clowney’s still going to be a top pick in May’s draft. And that’s when the process of proving himself to his doubters will really begin.