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Jadeveon Clowney Arrested Right Before Signing With Cowboys

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Sep 19, 2025 6:27 PM ET

The Dallas Cowboys got some reinforcements in the pass rush room earlier this week when they signed former No. 1 overall draft pick Jadeveon Clowney. But as it turns out, Clowney ran into some trouble with the law prior to his signing.

According to WSOC via CBS Sports, Clowney was arrested on misdemeanor charges of trespassing and failure to identify in Rock Hill, South Carolina - his hometown.

Per the report, Clowney was trying to park in a lot that was not open to parking. Despite being warned not to park in the lot, he attempted to do so anyway.

This incident occurred on September 12 - approximately three days before the Cowboys announced the signing.

Welcome to Dallas, Jadeveon! ⭐️

: https://t.co/AzkcVUUck8 | @blockchain pic.twitter.com/vEwm5cYyWa
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) September 15, 2025

At the time of the announcement, he told the team's website how much he was looking forward to being a part of the organization.

"Growing up, all I heard about were the Cowboys, all my life," he told Nicole Hutchison of DallasCowboys.com. "All my family, and the rivalries and stuff, so to be here playing for Cowboys — I'm looking forward to it, and it's exciting, man.

"I'm excited for the opportunity to get back to playing."

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 26: Jadeveon Clowney #24 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with his teammates after recovering a fumble against the Los Angeles Chargers during the fourth quarter in the game at SoFi Stadium on November 26, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Clowney's history

Jadeveon Clowney came into college football at South Carolina as a highly touted recruit, and he lived up to much of the hype. Over three seasons (2011-2013) he was dominant at defensive end, earning national awards like the Ted Hendricks Award (2012) and collecting multiple All-American and All-SEC honors. One of his most famous college moments was the hit in the 2013 Outback Bowl, in which he forced a fumble off Michigan’s running back Vincent Smith—an explosive play that helped define his reputation for power, burst, and game-changing ability.

In the NFL, Clowney was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2014 Draft by the Houston Texans. He’s played for multiple teams since, including the Seahawks, Titans, Browns, Ravens, Panthers, and as of September 2025, the Cowboys. Over his 11-year career through 2024, he’s amassed about 409 tackles, 58 sacks, and 15 forced fumbles in 140 games. Though possibly never quite matching the astronomical expectations of a first-overall pick each season, he’s still respected for his explosiveness, big plays, and ability to contribute in both pass rush and run defense.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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