NFL execs: No one cares Jadeveon Clowney is hurt, draft stock is fine

Tom Pelissero | USA TODAY Sports

NFL teams may not be as concerned with star defensive end and potential No. 1 draft pick Jadeveon Clowney's approach to his junior season as University of South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier is.

"Nah, no one will care," an executive in personnel for an NFL team told USA TODAY Sports on Sunday. "If he's healthy, works out well and most importantly interviews well, it won't hurt him."

A second NFL executive echoed: "No one cares. He's injured."

The executives spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak publicly on a college player.

Spurrier expressed frustration after Clowney sat out Saturday's win against Kentucky, telling coaches shortly before kickoff that his bruised ribs were too sore to play.

The 20-year-old also has dealt with illnesses before two games and bone spurs in his right foot while recording just 12 tackles and two sacks this season.

A joint rule between the NCAA and NFL says players must be three years removed from their senior year of high school before becoming eligible for the draft.

Asked Saturday about Clowney's commitment to the Gamecocks, Spurrier said, "You'll have to ask him that."

NFL teams surely will ask similar questions in hopes of finding out to what degree, if any, Clowney opted out of playing games to preserve his pro pay day.

His trepidation would be understandable, considering he watched former teammate Marcus Lattimore — once regarded by many as the best tailback in the 2013 draft class — suffer a major knee injury last year and ended up getting taken in the fourth round by the San Francisco 49ers.

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