Clemson was in a precarious situation at linebacker last season.

The Tigers had depth on the defensive line, and depth in the secondary, but virtually none in the middle behind B.J. Goodson at MIKE linebacker and Ben Boulware at WILL.

Goodson and Boulware essentially played all game, every game in 2015, with nobody behind them to provide a breather. And each game, Clemson’s coaching staff had to hold its breath in hopes that Goodson and Boulware stayed healthy — had either gone down, the Tigers would have been in trouble.

Heading into this season, it’s a different story at linebacker for Clemson. Head coach Dabo Swinney feels like he has plenty of competitive depth at the position.

If something were to happen to Boulware or fellow starter Kendall Joseph, for instance, Swinney won’t hesitate to rely on the reserves backing them up. Even if the starters remain healthy again, the reserves can spell the starters and keep them fresh over the long run.

Swinney named Tre Lamar, Jalen Williams and J.D. Davis as a few of the backup linebackers he feels he can win with right now.

“We’re going to play more guys. We trust more guys,” Swinney said after practice on Monday. “That’s the difference in us defensively than last year. Last year, we just didn’t have a lot of trust because our defense is complicated. We had a lot of experienced guys, and then it was a huge drop-off at linebacker because it was all freshmen.”

Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables has the same level of confidence in the linebacker corps.

“I think we have more guys that can execute consistently,” Venables said following practice on Tuesday. “We’re still developing and improving, but I think we have more guys that know what to do with more assuredness.”

Last year, Goodson played 911 snaps, while Boulware played 850. Though Boulware might not see quite as many snaps this year with the improved depth, the depth isn’t going to change how Boulware prepares for a game.

“I prepare like I’m going to play 80 snaps a game,” Boulware said. “If I prepare like I’m going to play 40 snaps, and he’s going to play 20, then I think that kind of hinders how you’re going to play on game day. So, I’m preparing like I’m going to play every single snap, and I think that is what allows me to play at a high level.”

Boulware did admit, however, that there is a certain level of comfort associated with having more depth in his position group.

“It allows me to be more comfortable and not be freaking out on the sidelines, worrying about who’s in,” Boulware said. “I’m a lot more comfortable, but it doesn’t change how I play or how I go to work.”

Last year, Clemson’s linebackers were on thin ice, with little margin for error as far as injuries or ineffectiveness.

Now, the linebackers are on much more solid footing heading into the season.

“If we do have somebody that needs a break or somebody that’s screwing up or somebody that gets hurt,” Venables said, “then we can put the next guy in and feel like we can still execute at a pretty consistent level.”