By Will Vandervort.

Don’t get T.J. Green wrong, he loves nothing more than to get his hands on the football like he did when he was a wide receiver. But the Clemson sophomore also wants to play and he discovered last season that playing in the secondary gives him a whole lot better chance to do just that.

In only one spring in the defensive backfield, Green finds himself as the No. 2 strong safety on the depth chart heading into Saturday’s scrimmage at Death Valley.

“I think I pick up plays a lot faster than most people do,” he smiled after Friday’s practice.

Green realized he had to make the switch after the Tigers’ Orange Bowl victory over Ohio State. He knew that if he wanted to contend for playing time this fall, he had to make the switch to the defensive backfield before spring workouts began.

He approached head coach Dabo Swinney about the idea following a team meeting prior to spring practice. Like Green, Swinney felt this was the 6-foot-3, 190-pound safety’s best opportunity to play.

“I walked into his office after we had our players’ meeting and told him I wanted to move to safety. He felt like it was a good decision for me too,” Green said. “I felt like I would be more comfortable at safety so I did that and made that move.”

The transition of the move from wide receiver to safety has been a good one for Green. He says senior Robert Smith, another guy who moved from the offensive side of the ball after he got to Clemson, has played a big role in his progress.

He says he watches every move Smith makes and tries to learn as much as he can from him.

“He is a great guy to learn from. Every day I’m just watching him and how he breaks on balls. He is just so technically sound. He is a good guy to watch,” Green said.

Smith is also a good guy to emulate.

“Every day Robert Smith comes to work,” Green said. “He comes to work every day. He motivates you to try and work like he does.”

Green is also getting to work with his roommate Jayron Kearse, who has been playing some second-team free safety in practice. Jadar Johnson has been working with the first team. Kearse, who had four interceptions last season as a true freshman, stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 205 pounds.

With Green’s 6-foot-3 height, it gives the Tigers two of the tallest safeties in the ACC, an intimidating force for opposing wide receivers.

“We both have range and we both have speed,” Green said. “I feel like we can cover a lot of space when we are back there together, but right now we have to work and we have to get better so we can intimidate receivers.

“I mean, we can look good but we still have to play good.”

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As for getting his hands on the football, Green still plans to do that. He hopes to grab a few interceptions, but primarily he is looking forward to being the Tigers’ new kick returner. He was considered one of the best return-specialist in the state of Alabama coming out of high school.

“That is something I did well all through high school so I’m excited to be back there,” he said. “The main thing about kick returns is you have to get the blocks and then see the hole and hit it. I have been doing that pretty well.”

Green says he likes to think he can be a Devin Hester-like return specialist for the Tigers. Of course Hester, who now plays for the Atlanta Falcons, holds the NFL record for the most kick returns for a touchdown in a career.

“Most of the time, I just watch Devin Hester because I wanted to be one of the great kick returners,” he said. “That is something I really pride myself on so I watch his film and see how he hits holes and stuff like that.”