By Will Vandervort.

By Will Vandervort

When football fans think back on Malliciah Goodman’s four-year career at Clemson, they might say, “Here is a guy that never lived up to his full potential at defensive end.” And there might be something to that.

But odds are, when Clemson fans think back on Goodman’s career as a Tiger, the 2012 Chick-fil-A Bowl will probably come to mind. For it was on that one night this past New Year’s Eve, where Goodman put it altogether and put on one of the more impressive bowl performances in Clemson history.

The senior registered four tackles, including a Clemson bowl record three sacks, while consistently providing pressure in the LSU backfield. Goodman’s performance motivated his teammates as Clemson held the SEC’s Tigers to 99 rushing yards and 219 total in 48 plays during Clemson’s 25-24 victory.

“I had to sell-out,” Goodman said. “I knew it was my last game. I had to be that senior leader. It felt great out there. It was a great environment, a great game, two top-10 teams and it was intense.”

But no one was more intense than Goodman. Two of his three sacks came on LSU’s second and third possessions of the game, which set the tone for the Clemson defense. He later combined with Grady Jarrett to record a sack in the fourth quarter and then batted a Zach Mettenberger pass down on third-and-two that allowed Clemson to get the ball back and drive for the game-winning field goal.

“I don’t know what it was,” Goodman said. “It was like I was in a zone.”

Goodman’s three sacks allowed him to finish his career with 12 sacks, seven of which came this season. Not bad for a guy many thought never lived up to his full potential.

“What a neat thing for him to go out that way,” defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. “There is not a better young man in our program. To see him go out there and make a big difference in a game like that was huge.”

Goodman finished his career at Clemson with 109 tackles, including 21.5 tackles for loss. He also had 39 quarterback pressures, broke up three passes and caused nine fumbles. The Florence, SC native finished his senior season with 28 tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss. His tackles for loss ranked second on the team behind Tig Willard’s 10, as was his sack total behind fellow defensive end Vic Beasley, who recorded eight sacks.

But as solid as those numbers are, Clemson fans will always remember Goodman for what he did in the 2012 Chick-fil-A Bowl vs. LSU, like they remember cornerback Willie Underwood and his two interception afternoon against South Carolina in 1980.

“I still think I could have played better,” Goodman said. “I had a couple of missed opportunities I could have executed on, but overall my play was solid. I did a pretty good job.”

Now the task will be taking the momentum gained from dominating an SEC opponent and transferring that to his workouts for the pro scouts as he gets ready for the upcoming NFL Draft. Currently, Goodman is projected as a mid-round selection, but that could change after his performance in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

“He was getting pressure when they had in their seven- to eight-man protection, which is designed to be impenetrable, sort of speak,” Venables said. “He just won the one-on-one matchups all night.

“He deserves it. He has worked hard for it.”