Clowney talks college life

Former five-star defensive end Jadeveon Clowney has spent the last two-plus weeks getting used to college life. He discussed much of that process in a video on GamecocksOnline.com taken at the Pigskin Poets reading event.

Jadeveon Clowney admits it isn't easy. But the Gamecocks' freshman defensive end says it's what he was expecting.

The former consensus No. 1 prospect in the country has been busy getting used to life as a freshman in the SEC for the last two-plus weeks.

"It's what I expected," Clowney said Friday in a video on GamecocksOnline.com that was taken at the annual Pigskin Poets reading event. "Hard workouts and running -- more running than ive ever did in my life."

While it was expected, that doesn't mean it hasn't been a process.

"It's been pretty hard waking up at 6 a.m. trying to get used to this schedule," Clowney said. "I'm working on it; I'm trying to get better."

On top of the normal process all incoming freshman go through, Clowney has also had to deal with the constant attention of being the most highly recruited player to ever land on the South Carolina campus.

His busy schedule has at least given him a reprieve from the constant attention.

"I haven't been walking nowhere really," Clowney said. "Just working out -- I haven't had time but for class, study hall [then] going and laying down."

But there are still the times that he's seen out. Clowney, who says he'll wear No. 7 this season, says he didn't know how many Gamecock fans existed until he signed with South Carolina.

"Oh, all the time, I had somebody pull up in my car beside me one time -- he was waving at me and everything. But it's fun."

And while none of it's easy. He says it's all worth it.

"It's going to be tough, but it's something you've got to do -- you're willing to do," Clowney said. "You can get through it if you want to win. You've got to have a will to win -- I do."