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QUOTES: Texans DE Jadeveon Clowney

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OLB Jadeveon Clowney Conference Call**
Thursday, May 8, 2014

(on his emotions after being picked number one) "I was just telling them, I'm feeling great right now. You know, it's just a blessing. I appreciate and am glad to be a part of the Houston Texans."

(on when he knew he was going to be selected by the Texans) "I'd say like three minutes on the clock they called me and said, 'Hey, welcome to Houston.' I was like, 'Man, I'm just happy to be a part of the Houston Texans.'"

(on if he was confident he would go number one) "I mean, I really didn't know. Even though media talks, sometimes the media can be wrong. I was just happy about the situation and me going number one."

(on playing with J.J. Watt) "I'm looking forward to it. I've been watching him since I was in college and now I get to play beside him so that makes it even better for me, helps me to improve my game to where I want to be, take my game to the next level. And I'm just looking forward to getting to learn from him."

(on if J.J. Watt has reached out to him yet) "Yes sir, I just got off the phone with him. He says he's going to stay on my butt when I get there."

(on what J.J. Watt said to him in their conversation) "He told me he's going to give me every piece of knowledge to help me improve my game. He's going to show me like a mentor or big brother to me and I told him I appreciate that and I'm looking forward to working with him."

(on his conversations with Head Coach Bill O'Brien and Defensive Coordinator Romeo Crennel) "I thought it went pretty good. Bill O'Brien told me he wanted me and when I get down there that I'm going to be right there in his hip pocket and I told him I'm coming down to work for you and help the team win."

(on what today has been like for him) "It's been a great day. I'm enjoying every bit of it. No one can take this away from me, this moment. I'm just happy about it. It's just a blessing for me and my family, so I'm happy, man."

(on if he thinks he has something to prove to quiet the naysayers) "Oh yes sir, I think I've got a lot to prove to people. That's what I'm looking forward to most is proving a lot of people wrong. I'm ready to get down there and go on to Houston, Texas."

(on what kind of relationship he has with D.J. Swearinger) "DJ, we have a good relationship. Me and him took over the defense a little bit at South Carolina. He ran the secondary and I ran up front. It was pretty dominating, some domination there at South Carolina when he was there with the defense."

(on the biggest thing he brings to the team) "Hard work. Everybody says I don't work hard, but they're going to see when I get there. They are going to say, 'This dude works hard', and I'm a playmaker. I feel like I have a lot of playmaking ability. I am just looking forward to showing it off when I get there in Houston."

(on his ability to play stand-up linebacker) "I feel like I can play either one: stand-up or bending down. I am pretty athletic and I know I can play either way if they want. Whatever they want me to do, I am willing to do it and work at it. If I am not really good at it, I'm working to get good at it."

(on if he has ever visited Houston in the past) "I only came down there on my visit and it was pretty good."

(on having any history with Houston) "No sir, no history at all."

(on not knowing the town yet) "No, that is going to be the hardest thing for me is learning the town."

(on his conversations with Mike Vrabel and coaching technique) "He says that he is going to push me hard and he's going to stay on my butt. I told him that I am looking forward to that. I take coaching from just about anybody who knows more than me about the game.  I am just looking forward to working with him and getting it going with the Houston Texans."

(on being reunited with D.J. Swearinger) "I think it will be great, man. Me and him have been talking about it ever since the season ended. He was like, 'I hope you end up down here man, and we can bring this South Carolina down here to Houston.'  I said, 'Man, me too.' So that's what we are trying to do."

(on having a good situation his first year in the NFL being with such a strong defense) "I don't think there could be a greater situation for me overall because I'm back with the guys that I know. I am working one of the best, if not the best defensive lineman in NFL football and one of the best linebackers in Cush (Brian Cushing) as a leader, which is going to help my game to go to the next level, in which I am so excited about because I'm getting to learn from guys and I think I just don't really know how I feel right now."

(on exchanging texts with Johnathan Joseph) "He was like 'Man, don't let the media get to you and stay focused. Remember that it is a business and you just have to keep going and don't ever stop working. Nobody knows what really goes on when the cameras aren't on and everybody doesn't knows what's going on when the cameras off and seeing how hard you work. Keep working and get ready to prove a lot of people wrong.' I hoped I would end up in Houston and that's why he would say it to me."

(on if he knew owner Bob McNair is a graduate of the University of South Carolina) "Yeah, I was aware. I like, 'You went to South Carolina. He was like, 'Yeah.' I said, 'I didn't even know.' That was about a month ago. Then I thought that might give me a chance to go to Houston, man."

(on the biggest misconception with his game) "They don't think I have any power which I think I've got a lot of power. That's why I'm surprised because my attacking ability. I think I attack pretty good and with the quickness and speed I've got which will help me at the next level."

(on his choice to wear number 90 with the Texans) "I can't wear seven, and I wore 90 back in high school, and it was pretty good then so I wanted to go back to it."

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