On Jan. 1, 2013, with just over eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of the Outback Bowl, then-South Carolina Gamecock Jadeveon Clowney burst up the middle, a blazing runaway train, met Michigan running back Vincent Smith just as Vincent hugged the handoff to his chest -- or was it even before?! -- and bulldozed Smith to the ground. Smith's helmet took flight. The ball did too. The Hit was born.
The Hit didn't announce Clowney's arrival on the football scene. Clowney announced Clowney's arrival. ("I got down on my knees and thanked the football gods for sending that kid to South Pointe High School," says Bobby Carroll, his high school coach.