When he talked about the guys he coached this past season, Clemson defensive line coach Todd Bates was quick to point out reserve defensive end Chris Register.

“I love Chris Register,” Bates said to The Clemson Insider prior to the Sugar Bowl. “He is at work every day. He is getting mental reps. He is asking me questions standing behind me when the starters are in. Then he goes out there and does it as well. He basically works and knows what to do and how to do it.”

Register played a key role as a reserve end this year for a Clemson defense that lacked depth at the defensive end positions. But Register held his own while playing in all 14 games for the nation’s No. 2-ranked scoring defense.

Originally a linebacker, Register made the switch to defensive end after his redshirt year in 2014. He has spent the last three seasons growing both physically and mentally at defensive end and is No. 2 on the depth chart behind starter Clelin Ferrell on the left side of the defensive line, which is where he played most of the 2017 season.

Register played nearly 300 snaps last season in 14 games. He had 10 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a half of a sack. More importantly, he was a good role model and leader for freshman Xavier Kelly and Justin Thomas.

“That is a blessing to have him right there with those young guys while (Ferrell and Austin Bryant) are in,” Bates said. “He has been able to talk behind me as I am watching practice. He will ask a question here and there, but I will tell you he was always locked in.

“He stays up on what he is supposed to do. He wants to help his teammates. That is the one thing that I love about this whole group is how they serve each other.”

Bates was especially proud of the way Register stepped up and started leading after his fellow defensive end Richard Yeargin was injured in a car accident last June. Yeargin fractured part of his neck and missed all of the 2017 season to let it heal.

Bates noticed how Register was there for not only his fallen teammate, but for the other guys too, making sure everyone was doing what they needed to do to in helping each other get ready for the season or a game.

“The opportunity in adversity is also there for those behind you as well,” the Clemson coach said. “It is one thing for you to get stronger mentally if you are going through it, but it is one for your teammates who are behind you backing you up. Now they have to step up.

“We always say around here to be ready for your opportunity. Make sure when it comes that you are ready. That light is going to shine on you and you cannot let it shine brighter than the one inside of you.”

Register made the most of his opportunity, and now he has an opportunity to do even more.