Brent Venables and Dabo Swinney have both described linebacker Ben Boulware in the past as a “bull in a china shop.” And they mean that very affectionately.
He lives that way. He plays that way. That’s who he is. Boulware does everything full speed. That’s why it was no surprise last week the former Clemson linebacker, who just three weeks ago guided the Tigers to a national championship, led the South squad with six tackles in their Senior Bowl victory this past Saturday.
“Showing (the NFL scouts) what I am about on the field and my personality. I have a great knowledge of the game and want to show what type of leader I am on the field,” Boulware said to SB Nation’s Big Blue View last week. “I can be the quarterback of the defense and line guys up.”
Boulware was definitely the leader for the reigning national champions this past fall. He finished the season with 127 tackles, including 11.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. He had two tackles behind the line of scrimmage in the Tigers win over Alabama in the national championship game.
“I am a local guy with local ties and it just kinda got to me,” Boulware said about his emotional speech following the title game. “We were able to bring those fans, who bleed for us like we bleed for them, the best gift. All my life I have followed this program and was filled with happiness. And even with our success all season, it seemed every game we were the underdog. So run your race in a way to win.”
No one runs their race like Boulware. His passion for the game and his will to succeed drove his teammates during the Tigers’ national championship run.
“I am very passionate with the game and someone you can build a defense around,” he said.
“I am a leader and not afraid of hard work,” Boulware continued. “I have no problem laying my body on the line and help my teammates.”
The week Boulware had in Mobile, Ala., for the Senior Bowl was a good experience for the linebacker. He got to work out in front of 700 NFL representatives. He got to show them what he is all about and what kind of player they will get if they take a chance and draft him.
One of the questions scouts have about Boulware is his ability to cover running backs and tight ends. However, Boulware pointed out in his college career, he totaled five interceptions, including one this season. He also had nine pass breakups in his career.
“I love to hit someone, there is no doubt about that,” he said. “I feel that I have the speed for coverage and have been doing that for some time. Every season my pass breakups increase so you know I am back there. And I have five interceptions for my college career. But when I recognize it’s a run I am all over it.”
Boulware finished his Clemson career with 348 tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.
“You have to study, you have to work to get strong and you have to watch film,” he said. “Teams will give you tendencies, and if you put in the study time you can get tip offs. At Clemson, they really stress the importance of defense and for that I am thankful to be a part of such a tremendous program and rewarded with a national championship this season.”
As for being called a loose cannon or bull in a china shop.
“You can’t play linebacker if you aren’t a cannon of some sort,” Boulware said.
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