By William Qualkinbush.

T.J. Green came to Clemson so he would not have to play defense. It was not that way for long.

The one-time wide receiver has been one of the most productive players on the Tiger defensive unit in 2014, even though he is still in the early stages of his development as a safety. The transition from offense to defense might not have happened had the Alabama native picked a different roommate.

Green was initially slated to attend school at N.C. State, but Mike Reed—Clemson’s secondary coach who was formerly on staff with the Wolfpack—convinced him to switch his commitment on Signing Day in 2013. The major push from the Tigers was the opportunity to play wideout, something State was not prepared to offer.

It seemed like a shrewd move for Green, but he soon found out the rigors of playing in Chad Morris’ offense were more daunting than he imagined.

“Coming in, I was really excited about playing receiver,” Green said. “But going through the season, I was trying to learn the plays and trying to play fast.”

Green’s struggles with the playbook and the speed of the game were frustrating, and they contrasted tremendously with what he saw in his roommate—safety Jayron Kearse.

“Things weren’t going too well for him on the receivers’ side of the ball,” Kearse said. “Just talking to him and watching him in high school—watching his highlights—I felt like he could have come over and contributed in the secondary.”

Green began to ask questions of Kearse as he would study on a weekly basis. After a few conversations, Green went to Head Coach Dabo Swinney—a former wide receivers coach—and requested to move to defense.

Swinney saw the need and advised Green to make the move to defense, both for his present and his future.

“He told me that’s where the money would be for me (in the NFL),” Green said. “I trusted him for my decision.”

The transition was as smooth as everyone imagined. Green was already an established head-hunter on special teams, so he translated that aggression to the defensive side of the ball. Special teams is still an integral part of his game this season—he ranks third on the team in special teams tackles (6) and is the top kickoff returner—but now Green is getting to showcase his abilities as a member of the two-deep at safety.

“I’ve got a better feel for the game,” Green said. “I can go out there and play more comfortably and use my speed to move around.”

So far, Green has established himself as one of the most productive players on Clemson’s defense in 2014. He has recorded 20 tackles in only 92 snaps—an impressive per-play average that ranks among the best on the unit—and figures to get even more opportunities with Robert Smith hobbled for a short time.

Green still sees the field from a receiver’s perspective, perhaps the reason he wanted to explore that position in the first place. He says that unique vantage point is helpful for him and his teammates as they attempt to shut down the opposition.

“When we’re watching film, I can tell sometimes by where the receiver lines up what kind of route it is,” Green said. “Sometimes, when we’re practicing against our own offense, I can hint the play to our defense.”

Instead of being adversaries in practice, now Green gets to play alongside Kearse. Both players testify to the effect Green’s presence at safety has had on their relationship.

“We kind of built that brotherhood living together,” Green said. “We just wanted to be back there with each other.”

Green is all smiles as a defensive player now. Maybe he smiles because of the irony of a player thriving at a place he picked primarily so he would not have to do what he now loves. His coaches and teammates are smiling, too.