The next Jadeveon Clowney? Ohio State star Chase Young compared to Gamecock great
Chase Young doesn’t like being compared to other players. The Ohio State defensive end, arguably the best player in college football, that he just tries to go out and play his game and not worry about others.
But when Clemson co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott compared Young to former South Carolina star Jadeveon Clowney, it was a comparison Young was pleased with.
“I’m definitely honored to be compared to one of the best,” Young said. “He’s one of the best in the league. Definitely somebody you would love people to say you play like. He’s definitely a great player.”
Clemson’s staff knows all too well how Clowney can wreck a game, as the Gamecock great had 4.5 sacks against the Tigers in 2012.
Clowney at South Carolina had 129 tackles (47 for loss), 24 sacks, seven pass break-ups and nine forced fumbles from 2011-13. He was a force on teams that won 33 games and went on to be the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
Elliott and Clemson have game-planned to try to keep Young from making too many plays against Clemson, but it will be a challenge to slow him down.
“When you cut on the tape he looks a lot like Clowney, and Jadeveon Clowney is a guy that could dominate every single play of the game. And Chase is that kind of guy,” Elliott said.
So what makes Young so good?
“He can dominate in the run game. He can dominate in the pass game,” Elliott said. ”He’s very, very skilled in his movements. He understands leverage. He understands timing. He sets tackles up. He’s got a great club move, and then he can bend that corner and get to that quarterback. You can tell he’s an experienced guy.
“So I would compare him to a Jadeveon Clowney is probably the closest guy.“
When is the Fiesta Bowl?
Who: Clemson (13-0) vs. Ohio State (13-0)
Where: PlayStation Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix
When: 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28
TV: ESPN
Early line: Clemson by 2
