Three years ago, Kendall Joseph decided to stay close to home when he committed to Clemson in June 2013, choosing the school over offers from Duke, Georgia Tech, Louisville, UCLA and others.

The native of Honea Path, S.C., and Belton-Honea Path High School product recognized what Clemson was building and knew it was the right fit for him.

“It was a blessing,” Joseph said this week, reflecting on his decision. “It was huge because I’m a home-town kid, it’s only 45 minutes away, and I knew how big it was and what kind of program Clemson was.”

Now an unheralded star in the middle of Clemson’s top-10 defense, Joseph is getting ready to start in his first College Football Playoff game after serving in a reserve role last season.

“It’s just a blessing to be here,” Joseph said. “You don’t get this opportunity many times, especially to go to the playoffs two years in a row, so for me it’s just keeping the trust in my teammates and coaches, but working hard and not taking it for granted.”

Having been bothered by injuries early in his career that kept him from earning a higher spot on the depth chart, Joseph hasn’t taken his opportunity this season for granted.

He has quietly been a keystone of the defense and is second only to fellow linebacker Ben Boulware with 107 tackles, while he ranks third on the team with 10 tackles for loss.

“In my soul I know how hard I’ve worked to get where I’m at because it wasn’t easy,” Joseph said. “I was coached really well all throughout high school, and I think that helped me when I got to college with some of the principles and things that coach (Brent) Venables uses.

“So for me, I worked so hard, so why not get the benefits of it.”

As much as anyone, Joseph wants to win the next two games in the College Football Playoff and bring the national championship trophy back to Clemson for the first time in 35 years.

He can imagine the smile he’d see on his grandfather’s face if the Tigers reach the pinnacle of college football.

“He is a real big Clemson fan,” Joseph said. “He’s been in this area his whole life, so I know it would be big for him.”

Joseph feels the support of his grandfather, family and Clemson fans. He knows what a title would mean to them and hopes to help Clemson take care of business.

“It would be great,” he said. “I definitely have all the support in my corner. I know people are really rooting for me and the Clemson Tigers, so to bring it back home and see the look on my grandfather’s face would be everything.”