Much has been made of the loss of defensive leadership off of the 2014 Clemson defense. When thinking about leadership, the mind tends to focus on the linebacking corps, particularly the middle linebacker spot.
It just so happens that one of the primary functional leaders on Clemson’s defense filled that role last season. Stephone Anthony had a wealth of experience and used it to guide a tenacious Tiger defense a year ago, but he is now a professional. So is weakside (WILL) backer Tony Steward, a five-star prospect whose injury-plagued career enjoyed a much-deserved end in the starting lineup in 2014.
The only returning starter at linebacker is barely even a linebacker at all. In fact, Korrin Wiggins should probably be listed as a defensive back, except that Brent Venables combines the strongside (SAM) linebacker slot with the nickel cornerback slot in his defensive alignment. This blend has been good for Wiggins, whose combination of physicality and coverability allowed him to flourish as a freshman last season. His presence will provide some stability in a group that has experienced upheaval at the top.
The leading returning tackler at linebacker is Ben Boulware. The rising junior has become something of a cult hero among fans and media members for his reckless playing style and his straightforward way of speaking. Boulware played behind Steward last season and has the ability to shift to the middle in the bind. His ball-hawking tendencies have earned him praise, but the cerebral aspects of the game (assignments, discipline, etc.) still need work.
Taking over for Anthony will be fifth-year senior B.J. Goodson. He played a good bit in 2014 and is listed at 240 pounds, the biggest of the linebackers on the post-spring depth chart. The main hurdle for Goodson this season will be operating in the shadow of Anthony, who roamed from sideline to sideline with ease and regularly disrupted the backfield. No one expects Goodson to be Anthony, but he will need to be both active and productive.
When Venables goes with three true linebackers this season, he will likely turn to Dorian O’Daniel. The sophomore from Maryland came to Clemson with acclaim, but he has had to patiently wait for an opportunity. His frame screams tweener (6-2, 215) and that makes him a perfect fit for the nickel/SAM spot. Fans have often wondered when O’Daniel will make an impact, and now he has a chance to do so. T.J. Burrell, an in-state product, is also in the mix at nickel/SAM after being lightly used over his first couple of seasons in the program.
A pair of redshirt freshmen will provide depth at the other linebacker spots. Kendall Joseph is listed as Goodson’s primary backup, while Korie Rogers will be the second-teamer behind Boulware. Obviously, as redshirts, neither saw game action a year ago. Joseph is a smaller, thicker specimen that can man the middle, while Rogers boasts more length and better athleticism. Both should log their fair share of snaps this season.
One player unaccounted for on the post-spring depth chart is redshirt freshman Chris Register. There was legitimate discussion among media types about whether Register profiled better as a backer or as a defensive end, but Dabo Swinney seems committed—at least for the moment—to giving Register a shot at linebacker. He has a great shot to see ample work at either MIKE or WILL.
It remains to be seen if freshman Chad Smith will have a role. There isn’t much depth, but there is enough—barring injury—to give the staff the option of redshirting Smith. The Virginian has legit ability, but his intangibles jumped off the page throughout his recruiting process. He will need to work hard, but it’s not written in stone that he will be redshirted in 2015.