By Will Vandervort.

When you play behind guys like Grady Jarrett, DeShawn Williams and Josh Watson, playing time can be will tough.

Those three players combined for 174 tackles from their defensive tackles positions, including 21.5 tackles for loss and six sacks.

“Last year was tough for me,” Clemson defensive tackle D.J. Reader said. “Having to sit behind those three seniors was tough.”

But it was a learning experience. Though Reader did not get on the field as much as he wanted to, he understood why. Jarrett, Williams and Watson were hungry. They wanted it more and they did whatever it took to gain that edge.

Now it is his turn.

“I did not necessarily grow as much as I wanted to on the football field, but as a person I knew it was not my time. I had to sit back. Those guys were playing well. I just took as much as I could from them and learned,” he said.

Reader, a rising senior, learned what it is like to be the best. He saw guys like Jarrett and Williams, players who may not physically intimidate anyone, work hard and outplay their opponents strictly on hard work and preparation.

He saw Watson, who may not have been an every day starter, bust his butt and prepare as if he was going to start every game. He saw three guys that were willing to do whatever it took to be the best.

“I have never been the kind of person to run from something. If you give me a challenge, I’m going to go get it,” Reader said. “Now, I have my opportunity and there are no excuses for me not being able to perform the way I want to this year.”

It’s not like Reader performed bad last year. He finished the season with 27 tackles, including three tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack against South Carolina.

“D.J. is very talented. He is big, strong and very agile and is explosive,” Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. “He could be a great player and a dominating player. But he has work to do to get there.

“Again, it takes work, commitment, consistency and all those kinds of things. The tools are there.”

Venables says the Clemson defense is counting on Reader this season to be the kind of player they know he can be. They know he is one of those guys that have to want it, and if he does, then there is no one that can stop him.

“Can he be just a guy or can he be a player,” Venables asked. “Players get it. They understand. They make plays even when they are not supposed to. That is what players do. They are there every day. Those are guys that show up to work every day.

“The jury is still out (on Reader). We will see. We hope. But until then, you can’t really pronounce them just because they are the next guy. They have not done it yet.”