Uncommitted: Will Jadeveon Clowney save Face(book) and stay home?

"The Social Network" – known to most as "The Facebook Movie" – dominated the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday.

Next month it figures to conquer the Academy Award's as well.

The $1 million question around college football ranks: Will Facebook cause Jadeveon Clowney to cave.

At 6-foot-6 and 260 pounds, with a 36-inch vertical leap and 4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash, Clowney is the most coveted and physically gifted high school player in the country.



The senior defensive end from South Pointe (Rock Hill, S.C.), was almost impossible to move or certainly control at the high school level – he had a preposterous 306 tackles and 52.5 sacks over two seasons.

Likewise off the field, no one can get him to budge on his college decision.

Sure, he's named his finalist: Miami, Florida State, Alabama, South Carolina and LSU.

But Clowney has made it clear that he won't let the cat, Gamecock or Tiger out of the bag until at least signing day on Feb. 2. He's also told reporters that he might not pick until his birthday, on Feb. 14.

To help with his decision-making, the good folks and fans of the University of South Carolina in Columbia, about 50 miles from Rock Hill, have created a Facebook page, urging their hometown hero to stay close.

If Clowney reads through the hundreds of posts, he'll be hard pressed to say no.



"The fans would love you more (in) South Carolina," wrote Justin Workman. "Stay home and be a hero."

From Jerry Higgs: "Come to South Carolina we need your help. If you know any quarterbacks, bring him with you."

From Michael Meuli: "We can rename Bluff Road (where South Carolina's stadium is located) to Clowney Blvd."

Though most requests are flip and self-serving, there was one that dug a little deeper.
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William Turner wrote that his father died of cancer recently and was a huge Gamecock fan. Turner went on to write: "Stay home and make history. … We need you and you would start day one. No travel. Home cooking. People who love you from the days."

Rock Hill Herald sports writer Barry Byers, who covered Clowney throughout his high school career, thinks the prized recruit doesn't need any convincing.

"He's a real strong family kid," Byers said. "He wants to stay close to home, plus two of his good friends are going there. He has a tough time saying no to his friends."



Brothers Gerald Dixon Jr. (Northwestern) and Gerald G. Dixon (South Pointe) have committed to the Gamecocks. Both are beefy defensive linemen and sons of former Gamecock linebacker and 10-year NFL veteran Gerald Dixon Sr.

Clowney would be the crowning jewel on a class that already features 26 commits and is ranked No. 9 in MaxPreps.com Football Editor Stephen Spiewak's Top 20 recruiting classes.

"In my 28 years of coaching, he stands alone," South Pointe coach Bobby Carroll told MaxPreps senior writer Dave Krider. "He's an absolutely phenomenal player. I knew he'd be a defensive player. I'm a defensive coach. He's an unbelievable pass rusher. He's so dang fast. Coach Saban (Alabama's Nick Saban) talks about his motor that runs all the time. Coach Tressel (Ohio State's Jim Tressel) texted me and said he is one of the most humble kids he'd seen in a long time."

Byers called Clowney the best player he's seen in 31 years of reporting.

"He's a big ol' kid in a beast's body," Byers said. "He likes to laugh and smile. Everyone loves him."

Especially in South Carolina.



Here are the odds on where we think Clowney will end up:
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South Carolina (60 percent): When push comes to shove it almost always comes down to an embrace. High School kids – no matter how talented or coveted – go where they feel most wanted. It helps that South Carolina is on the rise and last year it secured the state's prized recruit – Marcus Lattimore. That worked out very well for all parties.

Alabama (20 percent): Clowney is close with former Clemson line coach Chris Rumph, who accepted a position at Alabama on Jan. 4. The Tide already owns the nation's second-best class and if they land Clowney and/or top tight end Jay Rome, they would easily move right to the top.

Florida State (10 percent): Clowney told Byers it was between South Carolina and Alabama, but hinted Florida State had climbed into the picture. With a commit already from the nation's No. 1 recruit, James Wilder, the Seminoles could move from No. 4 to No. 1 in the recruiting class if Clowney signs.

LSU (5 percent): OT-DE La'El Collins (6-5, 285), the nation's No. 7 recruit, has already committed and the thought of he and Clowney together is frightening.

Miami (5 percent): Southern Florida is an attractive landing spot – see LeBron James – but Clowney doesn't need the detractors - or haters - that James faces in Cleveland.