Ex Baltimore Ravens LB Jadeveon Clowney Wanted to 'Mature More' Before Signing with Carolina Panthers

Former Baltimore Ravens and South Carolina Gamecocks linebacker Jadeveon Clowney will be entering his 11th season in the NFL this year, but his first back home.

Clowney grew up in Rock Hill, South Carolina, just outside Charlotte, watching former Carolina Panthers stars take the field. Now, he'll be one of them.

Clowney signed a two-year deal last week to play for his hometown Panthers, in a move that was a long time coming in his mind.

“I used to  on TV all the time and say I can’t wait till I get my opportunity to do that one day,” Clowney said, via the team’s website. “Years ago, when I hit free agency, I told my agent not to reach out to Carolina because I wanted to mature more.

"And to get to this point where I know if I have to go back there, I can handle myself, and it won’t be a problem for me to do my job because I was still learning how to be a pro. So now I’m 31. I said I’m at the age now where I’m cool going back home; I can handle myself.”

Clowney was drafted by the Houston Texans at No. 1 overall in 2014 and played five seasons there until bouncing around to the Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans on a pair of one-year deals. He then signed with the Cleveland Browns for two seaons prior to another one-year deal with the Ravens last season.

Now, he's back home in South Carolina, where he very well may end his pro career.