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 As widely expected, the 21-year-old was chosen by the Houston
Texans as the first overall pick at the annual NFL Draft and took
the news in his stride.
When the defensive end's name was announced, he strolled on to the
podium at Radio City Music Hall like he had been in the spotlight
all his life, flashing a sheepish smile and hugged NFL Commissioner
Roger Goodell.
"It's the greatest feeling," he later told reporters. "It's like the
pressure was relieved.
"I always wanted to play in the NFL, I always wanted to be a
football player and now I've got my chance."
Standing 6-feet-5 (1.96 m) and weighing 266 pounds (121 kgs),
Clowney has all the physical attributes needed to make it in the
NFL.
Clowney has been earmarked for the NFL from the moment he began his
college career at the University of South Carolina, developing a
huge national following with his dreadlocked hair and trademark
diamond-stud earrings, which he wore again on Thursday.
 An All-American in his second year in 2012, setting records for
sacks, he was already good enough to enter the NFL but had to wait
another year under the league's rules.
His production dropped the following season, prompting speculation
he was protecting his body for the NFL, but it mattered little when
the draft took place and he was selected first.
"This feels great, I've been waiting all my life for this," he said.
"I grew up the hard way. A lot of people said I'd be nothing.
"But I always said I'd be something one day and here I am."
As the number one pick, Clowney became an instant millionaire the
moment his name was called, entitled to earn around $25 million for
his first four seasons in the NFL.
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It was a life-changing moment for Clowney, who was raised by a
single mother who has spent the last 20 years working in a potato
chip factory just to make ends meet.
"The first thing I'm going to do is take care of my mom," he said.
Going number one is no guarantee of success.
Although the list of former number ones includes the likes of Peyton
Manning, Troy Aikman, John Elway and Terry Bradshaw, there have been
plenty of flops as well with players who were brilliant in college
failing to have the same impact in the professional game.
Clowney said he was confident of making the transition and helping
the Texans, who lost their last 14 games in 2013 to finish bottom of
the NFL, get better.
"Just how great I want to be is up to me," he said. "I hope to be a
Hall of Famer one day. "I'm very humble about playing this game. I
always tell myself I want to be better.
"I've never been on a losing team so whatever they want me to do it,
I'll do it."
(Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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