This past season, Notre Dame senior linebacker Manti Te'o came close to winning the Heisman trophy as a defensive player, finishing second behind Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel.
No defensive player has won the trophy since Michigan's Charles Woodson in 1997 and no outright defensive player has ever won the award. Next year though, that could change, at least according to one high-profile player.
South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney had a stellar season this year for the Gamecocks and expects to have an even better one in 2013. One that ends in New York.
"I believe a defensive player can win the Heisman next year," Clowney said. That's my next thing, New York," Clowney said Monday night after the Gamecock's practice, according to the Associated Press. "Next season, I am going to come out and try to work harder than I did this season and try to get there."
Clowney was one of the most accomplished players in college football last season, being named a consensus All-American and finishing sixth in the Heisman voting. He also won the Hendricks Award this year as the best defensive end in college at the College Football Awards show in Orlando.
South Carolina defensive line coach Brad Lawing has seen Clowney develop since he was a highly regarded prospect at South Pointe High. The 6-foot-6 and 256 pound Clowney was one of the most sought after players by big college programs, but he decided to stay in his home state.
"Tell him he's got a scholarship" to South Carolina, Lawing told Clowney's coach at the time.
The sophomore put up the best numbers of his two-year career this season, making 50 tackles, 13.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and two passes defended. He had 37 solo tackles, 20 tackles for loss and was a force in every game he played, including in the opening 17-13 win against Vanderbilt when he had four tackles and one sack.
Clowney had high expectations as a freshman, but struggled a bit during his first season, showing athletic skill and speed, but failing on some of the fundamentals.
"Sometimes when you're 18, 19 years old, you think you know everything," Lawing said.
He improved throughout the year and was voted SEC Freshman of the Year by the coaches after making 36 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, eight sacks and forcing five fumbles, which was ranked second in the SEC and seventh in the nation.
The 11th-ranked Gamecocks went 11-2 during Clowney's freshman year and finished 6-2 in he SEC Eastern division. The team went to the Capital One Bowl and defeated Nebraska 30-13 in part to Clowney, who made four tackles and two sacks.
Clowney improved dramatically in his sophomore season and became one of the most explosive defensive players in the nation. He ranked first in the SEC in sacks and made a season-high seven tackles in a 49-6 win against UAB in September.
During a four game stretch this season, Clowney recorded 5.5 sacks in wins against UAB, Missouri, Kentucky and Georgia, who went on to go play in the SEC championship game. South Carolina lost the following two games, including a 44-11 loss at Florida on Oct. 20.
Clowney faced double teams for most of the season, but still put up excellent numbers. His best performance of the year came in the regular season finale against in-state rival Clemson. Clowney had 4.5 sacks in the 27-17 win and recorded seven tackles, including six solo against athletic quarterback Tajh Boyd.
"Everywhere we went people were talking about that game," Clowney said.
Clowney's play this season has received attention from the highest levels of football. According to ESPN's draft guru Mel Kiper Jr, Clowney could be a top pick.
"I don't think there would be any doubt about that," Kiper said.
Head coach Steve Spurrier was a former Heisman winner in 1966 and sees the potential in Clowney to win the award. He knows how skilled Clowney is and expects him to test the NFL waters after his junior year.
"He's gotten a lot of attention and he's handled it well, handled it very well," Spurrier said. "We all know he's a three-year player, which is fine."
Clowney has a chance to break Eric Norwood's school record of 29 sacks next season and his 21 career sacks rank seventh among all players in the SEC since 2000. Clowney will face tough odds and history to win the Heisman trophy, but his confidence is shaken by any of it.
"It's a possibility," he said. "I just keep playing my game, and I probably have a shot at winning next year."
To have a chance at the Heisman, any defensive player must have an overly-dominant season statistically. Te'o finished 153 first-place votes behind Manziel, while Spurrier said to the Associated Press he voted Clowney ahead of both Manziel and Te'o.
This past season Te'o recorded 101 tackles, including 46 solo, to go along with two sacks and seven interceptions. He notched his third 100-tackle season in his Notre Dame career in the win.
Clowney would likely have to improve on his already stellar numbers from this season to have a chance at the Heisman. Although the odds are long, if no offensive player puts up numbers like Manziel did this year, he could sneak into a prime spot in New York.
South Carolina is preparing to play No. 19 Michigan in the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day in a matchup between SEC and Big Ten teams.
