Nation’s top DE previews Clemson trip

SPARTANBURG - Jadeveon Clowney, the No. 1 rated defensive end in the class of 2011 will take an official visit to Clemson.

DE Jadeveon Clowney Profile

CUTigers caught up with Clowney after Wednesday morning’s Shrine Bowl practice at Spartanburg High School.

“I scheduled the Clemson trip because I like [defensive ends] coach [Chris] Rumph,” he said. “I told him that I would take an official visit.”

Clowney’s visit to Clemson is scheduled for the weekend of Jan. 21-23.

“I’ve got a pretty good idea of what’s going on down there,” he said.

The Scout.com five-star saw Rumph shortly before he departed for the Shrine Bowl.

“He came up to Rock Hill like two days before I came up here,” Clowney said. “He just came by the school.”

Rumph and Clowney recently spoke, too.

“We talked about getting to see my parents, talked about everything,” Clowney said.

Florida State and South Carolina also sent coaches to Rock Hill’s South Pointe High School to check on Clowney, who was named Mr. Football in the state of South Carolina earlier this month.

He’s also scheduled visits to Florida State, Alabama and LSU. An official to South Carolina was taken in early November.

The South Pointe senior defensive end sat out Wednesday morning’s practice with an injury.

“I’ve got a little strain on my shoulder. I was told to sit out today,” Clowney said.

“I was tackling before, when I got it the first time.”