Merril Hoge has a job to do at ESPN. The former running back gets paid handsomely to evaluate, critique and bash football players when he sees fit.
Former South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is firmly in Hoge’s crosshairs this draft season. In what can only be described as fate, Hoge ripped into Clowney one month to the day that he allegedly said he’d take Michael Sam over Clowney. Hoge then clarified that he didn’t make that statement and threw ESPN’s First Take under the bus for the gaffe.
This time Hoge ripped into Clowney’s fundamentals and totally dismissed him as a football player.
ESPN's Merril Hoge also said he would take Khalil Mack "in a heartbeat" over Jadeveon Clowney. "In the first round, all day."
— Evan Silva (@evansilva) April 21, 2014
ESPN's Merril Hoge called Jadeveon Clowney's fundamentals "atrocious." "Not a very good football player .. Gets controlled & trucked a lot."
— Evan Silva (@evansilva) April 21, 2014