Jadeveon Clowney hopes to build on 'Kobe Bryant year' in Carolina

Coming off his “Kobe Bryant year” with the Baltimore Ravens, veteran pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney is hoping to replicate that success this season — this time, for his hometown team.

Clowney, the Rock Hill native and former South Carolina standout, signed a two-year deal worth up to $24 million with the Carolina Panthers this offseason. The 31-year-old, former first-round pick earned the deal after putting together one of his best seasons in Baltimore, in which he tallied 9.5 sacks, tied for a career-high.

Clowney, who wore No. 90 for the bulk of his career, chose to wear No. 24 last season, his first and only with the Ravens. Clowney was looking for a spark after a down season the year prior with the Cleveland Browns.

“That was my Kobe Bryant year, the return of the killer,” Clowney said Friday, via ESPN. “I said Kobe [year] because when I was in Cleveland a lot of stuff happened my last year there when I didn’t have my best season. They put out that article about me saying all this about what was going on.”

During his final season with the Browns, Clowney told Cleveland.com that the team was favoring fellow pass rusher Myles Garrett over him. The Browns disciplined him for the comments, leaving him in Cleveland ahead of the season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“Like I said, the lady with the pen gets the last say, so I never really got to respond to that or say anything about what was said,” Clowney said. “I just swallowed that and went to work and got back to grinding and working out.”

Jadeveon Clowney coming off first fully healthy season since 2017

The 2023 season represented the first season in which Clowney suited up for a full season since 2017. That was Clowney’s penultimate season with the Houston Texans, who selected him No. 1 overall in the 2014 NFL Draft.

“That was very important, really for myself because I already knew I could play the game and make plays,” Clowney said. “I tell people all the time if I play in 16, 17 games, it’s going to look like a Pro Bowl season. That’s all I got to do, is just be out there playing.

“I know I can make the plays no matter what team I’m on. I’ve just got to be available and take care of myself. The older I get the more I figure out how to stay healthier.”

Clowney won’t be wearing No. 24 in 2024. Instead, he’ll be wearing No. 7, the number he made famous in a Gamecocks uniform. Clowney hopes to help the Panthers, who went 2-15 last season, turns things around this season.

“I think we can turn this thing around and have some fun here,” Clowney said. “I’m looking for something great for this upcoming season. The division [NFC South] was tight last year regardless of what people say. It’s no reason to think the Panthers can’t come out on top of the division this year and make the playoffs.”