When the term “most important” is given when describing a ranking of one player over another, it does not necessarily describe who the best players are on a team. Instead, it tells us the main or most important part of the team, without which it cannot really exist.
In other words, could Clemson have reached the College Football Playoff Championship Game last year without Deshaun Watson? And would they have had him there had those other “important” players had not been in place either.
Who are Clemson’s “Most Important Players” for 2016? We at The Clemson Insider have our own ideas, and today we reveal who is No. 3.
Ben Boulware
It’s not like Clemson was bad at the linebacker positions last year, there was just very little depth. The Tigers pretty much went the entire season with just three guys – B.J. Goodson, Ben Boulware and Travis Blanks.
Fortunately for Clemson, they were all that was needed in a season which ended in Arizona playing for the national championship. But it’s a situation head coach Dabo Swinney does not want to be in again.
Boulware is back manning the weakside of the defense, while Kendall Joseph will anchor the middle and Dorian O’Daniel will direct the strong side. Behind them is a pair of freshmen said to be two of the best in the nation in Shaq Smith and Tre Lamar.
“They are definitely eager. They are physical and pretty big. They are really big for how young they are. I definitely think they are a step ahead of most of the guys. They look like NFL linebackers right now,” Boulware said. “The main thing is that they just have to learn the system, learn the formation and learn the keys of what offenses do.
“It takes a while to get confident in their knowledge of this system. They have a long way to go but they are growing each and every day. They are learning something new every day, but it’s definitely a long road. They are eager for that challenge though.”
Others like Jalen Williams and Chad Smith are expected to compete for serious playing time in their second year as well.
“We have a lot of guys that really understand what we are doing, and they can all function. We were not there this time last spring, at all. We had two guys that could function and everyone else was trying to line up,” Swinney said.
In 2015, Boulware earned All-ACC honors after he finished second on the team with 138 tackles, which included eight tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He had two interceptions and broke up seven passes as well.
Boulware is again the unquestionable leader of the defense, which is what makes him so important to the team, especially on a defense that returns just four starters.
“I have kind of been in a leadership role since I got here,” Boulware said. “It’s just definitely grown each and every season, but I think last year kind of helped me out. I didn’t have to really teach that many guys new things and show them the ropes. There were guys who hadn’t played that much but they knew what they were doing. They just had to be patient.
“This year guys are just completely new to the system. They have no clue what’s going on. My leadership role has grown. I’m used to it. I have gotten acclimated from the last three years.”
Defensive coordinator Brent Venables loves Boulware. He loves his work habits. His loves his drive, and his determination to prove everyone wrong.
“When you tell Ben he can’t do something, he is going to go do it,” Venables said. “That’s what I love about him. He gets it. Though we may not always agree and see eye-to-eye on something, he takes to coaching. He listens. He pays attention and he tries to get better.”