By Will Vandervort.

DeShawn Williams says it is simple. Clemson should win the national championship next year.

Not sure it is that simple. Clemson, fresh off its 40-6 victory over Oklahoma in the Russell Athletic Bowl this past Monday, has to replace eight starters on a defense that led the country in total defense and ranked in the top 10 nationally in 19 other statistical categories.

“The defense is going to fine,” Williams said.

Maybe so, but they will have to prove it, much like this group of seniors on defense did the last three years. Williams, along with Corey Crawford, Tavaris Barnes, Grady Jarrett, Josh Watson, Vic Beasley, Stephone Anthony, Robert Smith and Garry Peters, was a freshman when the Tigers gave up 70 points to West Virginia in the 2012 Orange Bowl. With that cloud hanging over their heads, they slowly rose up from being the butt of all jokes to the most revered defensive unit in college football.

“It was just our preparation. We were prepared for everything,” Jarrett said. “It was a testament for our coach. We wanted to finish on a strong note, you know. Coming into this year we had really high hopes for our defense.

“After the Georgia game, people really started doubting us. And I remember telling you guys, we’re going to get the problem fixed. And it’s like Coach (Dabo) Swinney said: ‘It ain’t how you start. It’s how you finish.’ And you look now, we’re the number one defense in the country, and that’s very special and I’ll always take it with me.”

Now the question is how good will the Tigers be next year with some many on this year’s No. 1 ranked defense gone? The good news for Clemson is that the guy who orchestrated this rise to the top is coming back. Defensive Coordinator Brent Venables and Clemson are working on a new contract deal that should keep him in Tigertown for at least another year or longer.

Clemson also returns talent on the defensive line as Shaq Lawson is back at defensive end after he recorded 42 tackles and 11 tackles for loss this year, including 3.5 sacks. Defensive tackles D.J. Reader (28 tackles) and Carlos Watkins (13 tackles) are also back. All three put in significant playing time this year as well as last season for Reeder and Lawson.

Scott Pagano and Kevin Dodd should provide some depth up front, though both guys are really unproven at this point.

At linebacker, Ben Boulware proved what a force his could be against Oklahoma, when he started the game for Anthony and recorded an interception, which he returned for a touchdown, and recovered a fumble. He was also a wrecking ball in several other games this season. The sophomore finished the year with 56 tackles and five tackles for loss.

B.J. Goodson (34 tackles) also played a lot at linebacker as did Kellen Jones (28 tackles). By the end of the year, Dorian O’Daniel was getting some significant playing time that should help in his development.

The secondary losses Smith and Peters, but Travis Blanks will return fully healthy after sitting out the season to heal from his ACL surgery last year, while Jayron Kearse and Mackensie Alexander return at safety and cornerback. But guys like Jadar Johnson, T.J. Green and Cordrea Tankersley all played at significant moments in 2014.

“The defense is going to be fine. The secondary is even stronger,” Williams said. “We still have Ben Boulware. We have B.J. Goodson. D.J. and Carlos are going to have to step up. Shaq is here and he knows what he has to do and you have Kevin Dodd.

“I’ll put my money on them. They should win the championship next year.”