Defensive Heisman Trophy candidates are hard to come by.

In 1997, former Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson became the only one to actually win it. Former Tiger Tyrann Mathieu had arguably the best chance since, as he was set to improve on the 2011 season that saw him make the finalist cut before being dismissed from the team.

The ascension of a defender to the top of the Heisman voting is typically an anomaly, but there may already be a new contender in Mathieu’s wake.

As South Carolina sophomore defensive end Jadeveon Clowney prepares to travel to Tiger Stadium on Saturday, he’s being heralded by some national media as a contender for the most prestigious award in college football.

Describing Clowney as highly touted coming into his freshman year is an understatement.

Every major recruiting website had Clowney as the No. 1 prospect for the 2011 class. In his final two seasons at South Pointe High School in Rock Hill, S.C., Clowney totaled 306 tackles and 52.5 sacks according to the official Gamecock website, earning South Carolina’s Mr. Football award as a senior.

LSU was one of many schools, including Alabama and Florida State, to throw offers at Clowney. But out of all of them, his home-state university stood out.

South Carolina had signed the state’s Mr. Football both years prior to Clowney in running back Marcus Lattimore and former Gamecock cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Gilmore, who was drafted No. 10 in the 2012 NFL Draft, was a high school teammate of Clowney’s and helped convince him to stay home.

“I said, ‘I just want to go in there and help them win,’” Clowney said. “They were on the rise, and I wanted to be a part of that.”

He was expected to make an immediate impact, and that he did. With Clowney starting from his first collegiate snap, the Gamecocks’ defense went from seventh to third in SEC total defense from 2010 to 2011. He ranked No. 7 with eight sacks and No. 4 with five forced fumbles as a freshman, helping to improve South Carolina’s record of 9-5 from the previous season to 11-2.

Clowney put together his SEC Freshman of the Year season playing free-form football. Instead of looking at the offensive tackle in front of him like the Gamecocks’ scheme demands, he watched the ball every play.

South Carolina defensive line coach Brad Lawing often had to have a veteran lineman spoon-feed Clowney his assignment between plays.

He hasn’t had to do that this season.

“His knowledge of the game is at a much higher level than what it has been,” Lawing said.

Clowney made sure he had the scheme memorized in the offseason, allowing him to play faster. Also finding he could no longer just throw his shoulder into an opponent to get off blocks against collegiate competition, he worked on using his hands to gain separation.

Halfway through his sophomore season, Clowney is 1.5 sacks and .5 tackles for loss off his first-year totals.

“He’s always been blessed with the ability to rush the passer,” said defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward after the Gamecocks’ 35-7 drubbing of Georgia. “He’s buying into what Coach Lawing’s teaching.”

But the case Yahoo! Sports columnist Dan Wetzel makes for Clowney’s Heisman hopes is that his effectiveness transcends statistics. He cited Clowney, who repeatedly leapt over and ran through Georgia’s offensive line, as the tone-setter in a defensive effort that forced prolific Bulldog passer Aaron Murray to go 11-of-31 from the pocket.

That kind of talk can make a young player crumble, as Mathieu’s situation has shown. As the Heisman grumbling has begun, starting defensive end Devin Taylor said his counterpart is the same person.

When he arrived on campus, Clowney met with coach Steve Spurrier who told him the media would eventually make him a big shot and to not let it get to his head.

His response?

“Yes, sir,” Clowney said.

His reaction to the Heisman talk?

“It doesn’t matter,” Clowney said. “I’ve just been laughing about it.”

The Tigers know what they’re up against with Clowney, however humble he is; considering Clowney’s combination of speed, agility and power, senior offensive lineman Alex Hurst, compared him to Colts Pro-Bowler Dwight Freeney. Clowney knows what he’s up against as well, claiming he’s ready to brave Tiger Stadium and compete with his fellow NFL defensive end prospects, juniors Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo, for bragging rights.

“I want to do my part as much as possible,” Clowney said. “I want to be better than them.”

Isabelle Khurshudyan, Sports Editor of The Daily Gamecock, contributed to this report.