By William Qualkinbush.

As he sat with the media on Monday afternoon, Kellen Jones heard his phone alarm going off in his pocket.

Embarrassed, he apologized and turned it off, but the symbolism was noticeable. The time has arrived for Jones to make his mark on the Clemson football program.

The Oklahoma transfer has seen his Clemson career derailed to this point due to depth apart from him and injuries that stunted his growth. As the Tigers prepare to face Louisville on Saturday, however, Jones finds himself the beneficiary of some injuries and is prepared to make the most of his chance to play a good deal of meaningful snaps.

With B.J. Goodson now squarely in the mix at the nickel/SAM position and Ben Boulware suffering from a concussion, Jones is now a prominent figure at both the MIKE and WILL linebacker spots. It is likely he will see some time at both positions during Saturday’s game, which is just fine with him.

“I’ve been investing my time for two or three years now to make sure I understand both of them,” Jones said. “In situations like this, I can understand it and simply adapt to the situation at hand.”

He says he hates to see Boulware miss time due to injury, just as he has during his Clemson career, and he has spent considerable time making sure he advises Boulware about how to make the most of an unfortunate circumstance.

“Everything’s not going to work out in your favor,” Jones said. “That’s what’s happening. That’s what’s going to happen throughout your career. Just make sure you prepare when the moment comes.”

Making the most of the moment has not been an issue for Jones. His per-snap tackle numbers are among the best in the country, as he has totaled 19 stops—12 of them solo—in only 80 snaps this season. That means he gets a stop every 4.2 snaps, a remarkable pattern of productivity that is far and away the best on Clemson’s team.

“He’s got good football intelligence, for the most part,” Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. “He’s a good player. He’s an excellent player. He’s not a liability out there.”

“Kellen is a guy that just loves to play football and plays with amazing effort,” defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. “He just has a passion for football.”

Jones had 11 tackles in 37 snaps last season before an injury knocked him out for the year in the third game. He has battled back to put himself squarely in the mix, fighting off physical struggles and attempting to better grasp the playbook in a crowded field of linebackers.

Venables is glad to see Jones begin to blossom at Clemson. He coached the Houston native at Oklahoma back in 2011, then he watched as the 230-pounder transferred a couple of time zones away to maintain that relationship as a Tiger. Their relationship is special because of that loyalty shown on both sides.

“Kellen’s a neat young guy that’s got a unique background,” Venables said. “I’ve recruited guys here, too, that I have the same kind of relationships with, but from a linebacker standpoint, it’s a little bit unique.”

“We talk quite a few times (a week),” Jones said. “He wants me to be prepared. There’s more pressure on me than anyone else because of the close relationship that we do have and that I followed him here.”

Jones’ teammates have watched him grow and develop, and they have begun to appreciate him, too. Jarrett says appreciation for Jones’ ability is easy because of one simple characteristic.

“He’s hungry to get to the ball-carrier,” Jarrett said of Jones. “At the end of the day, that’s what football is about. That’s being a good linebacker.”