South Carolina clears Jadeveon Clowney of wrongdoing with Jay-Z

All of us who enjoy watching South Carolina super-stud Jadeveon Clowney play (and plow) are relieved to know his season is not going to be derailed for illegal targeting by some rapper.

Clowney is, knuckles down, the nation’s best defensive player and a key cog in South Carolina’s BCS hopes this season.

There were concerns the defensive end might have broken NCAA rules by talking to superstar rapper Jay-Z, who now fancies himself a sports agent looking to represent future No. 1 overall choices in the NFL draft.

Thank goodness an internal investigation by the school has found no wrongdoing -- at least for now. You can bet, though, rival SEC schools are out there trying to find a picture of Clowney and Jay-Z in a hot tub.

South Carolina reported Clowney “has not had any impermissible conversations nor has he received any impermissible benefits.”

The school was so eager to get the news out that the message was scribbled in pen on stock company stationary.

Whew.

Thankfully, under NCAA rules, it is OK to talk to any other human being so long as it doesn’t end with a $500 handshake or the keys to a new Jaguar.

College football needs Clowney right now probably more than he needs college football.

Let’s keep it that way.

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