TAMPA, Fla.— Clemson offensive tackle Sean Pollard came to Clemson with high hopes of landing a starting position but knew he had to be patient and wait for the right time to come.

“It’s a blessing. I’m here. I’m a freshman,” Pollard said in his first session with the media at the beginning of the season. “(The veteran offensive linemen) have played a lot more hours than I have. They have been here a little bit longer, and I have the coaches’ trust that they are going to play the starters in a tight game, so I wouldn’t expect to be thrown in right then. If I had to, I would be ready to play.”

Little did he know that the right time would come sooner than he expected. The freshman moved into the starting position at right tackle after sophomore Jake Fruhmorgen took a leave of absence the week of the Pittsburgh game.

“I am just blessed to be in the situation that I am,” Pollard said. “Everything happens for a reason. Jake is my boy. We still talk on a daily basis to make sure he is doing OK, but things happen and I am just trying to be my best for Clemson.”

Now getting to start in the biggest game of his football career, Pollard is ready for the challenges that the Crimson Tide defense will present come Monday night at Raymond James Stadium.

“Alabama’s defense is what everybody says it is. They are a really good team,” Pollard said. “Tim Williams is fast on the ball. Jonathan Allen won the defensive lineman of the year. So they are obviously really good players. They are talented all over the field and very physical.”

“They know their defensive line’s really good, so they kind of rely on that,” he added. “Their linebackers are pretty good as well.”

Through preparation and film study, the 6-foot-5, 315 pound freshman has a good idea of what the Clemson offensive line will be getting themselves into as they take on one of the best defensive lines in the country.

“They are all different. Each player has a different role,” Pollard said. “Tim Williams is fast but he is also shimmy powerful too. Allen, he is just a really good overall player. It’s just different niches you have to pick up on through film study and see what’s this guy’s first move, what is this guy’s second move, and they are all shimmy powerful in the run. They are built to stop the run.”

Despite the fact that this will be the first time Pollard has gone against the Crimson Tide, Pollard understands that his starting job on Monday is not going to be a walk in the park.

“It is extremely physical. Get ready to play,” Pollard said. “Have your lunch pale mentality and get ready to work. That is about it.”