In his first year as the starting strong side linebacker, Dorian O’Daniel shined as he became one of the Tigers’ best defensive players, especially when it comes to stopping mobile quarterbacks who run the zone-read and/or the triple option.

O’Daniel has become known for his ability to limit Georgia Tech’s triple option thanks to playing his assignments and playing fundamental football. In his three seasons against Paul Johnson’s spread triple-option attack, O’Daniel has 26 total tackles, six tackles for loss, including two sacks and one caused fumble.

This past season, as Clemson held Tech to under 100-yards rushing for a second straight year, O’Daniel led the Tigers with eight tackles, including two behind the line of scrimmage and a sack against the Yellow Jackets. He has played a big role in why Georgia Tech has rushed for just 78 and 95 yards the last two years, and why Tech had just 124 total yards last season.

O’Daniel (6-1, 220) also shined in other games, too. He tallied seven tackles and one tackle for loss against Florida State and had seven tackles, 1.5 tackles behind the line and one sack against Pitt.

Overall, the Olney, Md., native finished the year with 60 tackles, while playing in all 15 games and starting 12. He had 10.5 tackles for loss, including 2.5 sacks. He also broke up one pass and had six quarterback pressures.

Jalen Williams: At 5-foot-10, 215 pounds, Williams is a hybrid linebacker. He can play the strong side position or become an extra safety/nickel back. When he was healthy earlier in the year, he allowed defensive coordinator Brent Venables to give opposing quarterbacks a lot of different looks. Williams came into his own in all his different roles last season, and was even productive when he came back from an MCL sprain that forced him to miss three games during the season and then again after he tweaked it in the ACC Championship Game. He did not play at all in the Fiesta Bowl win over Ohio State or in the national championship game against Alabama. He finished the season with just 24 tackles and one tackle for loss, but his best game came in the ACC Championship Game against Virginia Tech when he tallied seven tackles and a tackle behind the line after O’Daniel was dismissed from the game for targeting in the first quarter. Williams played a season-high 56 snaps in that game. He played in 10 games overall and started one. He also had two pass breakups and one quarterback pressure.

James Skalski: Venables described Skalski (6-2, 230) as a Ben Boulware. He says he plays with the same fire, attitude and determination as Boulware did when he was a true freshman. He played in 14 games last season after Venables decided he could help the team somewhere, which turned out to be on special teams. He record eight tackles on kick and punt coverage, second on the squad. Overall, he had 14 tackles, including two tackles for loss and one sack. Skalski will cross-train at all three linebacker positions in the spring.

Chad Smith: Also a lot like Boulware, Smith (6-4, 235) plays with a chip on his shoulder which he demonstrated with his team-high 10 special teams tackles. He will also work at middle linebacker in the spring and at weakside backer. He too played in 14 games during the Tigers’ run to a national championship. He recorded 19 tackles overall.

—Above photo: Alabama running back Bo Scarbrough (9) is tackled by Clemson linebacker Dorian O’Daniel (6) in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium on Jan. 9. (photo by Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)

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