'Living the Legacy': Dorian O'Daniel has turned into a leader on Clemson's defense
Clemson didn’t just lose key players from last year’s national championship team; they also lost a few of its vocal leaders.
Ben Boulware, Mike Williams, Deshaun Watson, the list goes on.
Immediately after the Tigers brought home their first national championship since 1981, many players still on the team had to reevaluate themselves moving forward.
“As soon as we met after the national championship and going into winter workouts, guys really had to reevaluate who they wanted to be as a team and who they wanted to be as an individual on the team as far as leading,” Clemson linebacker Dorian O’Daniel said.
“I think we did a good job of guys stepping in those roles and everyone following and guys leading by example.”
He didn’t specify which players stepped into those leadership roles, but O’Daniel is definitely one of them.
Being the guy behind Boulware, O’Daniel had a front row seat learning from Boulware and his leadership. O’Daniel had to wait for his time to make a name for himself. He is certainly making the most of it.
O’Daniel has 80 tackles this season so far, 10.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, and two interceptions returned for touchdowns.
He’s been nominated as one of the five finalists for the Dick Butkus Award, which is presented to the nation’s best linebacker.
His play on the field speaks for itself. His ability to fly around to the football and cover opposing offense’s best slot receivers has helped put Clemson’s defense in position to be one of the best in the country.
His off the field mentality is what sets him apart.
O’Daniel spoke with the media Tuesday afternoon before his team faces No. 7 Miami in the ACC championship game in Charlotte.
He said that no moment is too big for Clemson and Saturday will be just another “big game” for the Tigers.
Not many experts picked Clemson to win the ACC Atlantic division this season, but the Tigers are right back in the championship game for the third year in a row. Clemson has not won three consecutive ACC championships since 1987-89.
“It’s awesome,” O’Daniel said. “No one expected us to get as far as we are right now and that is just a compliment to our team because we didn’t get that memo. Really proud of our guys and how we have responded and have proven everyone wrong.”
He also had thoughts on Miami’s coveted turnover chain and if Clemson ever talks about getting anything like that:
“I understand why they do the whole chain thing. I mean, it’s ‘the U’ and everything that comes with it. I think it’s pretty cool just because that’s the flash of the program and so be it. To each his own.
“For us, we don’t necessarily have that because it is Clemson and we don’t look forward to getting recognition like that as far as creating a turnover.”
While O’Daniel isn’t worried about the chain, he’s focused on getting another ACC championship ring.
There have been whispers going around that Clemson should make the College Football Playoff regardless of the result this weekend against Miami. O’Daniel doesn’t share that mindset.
“I feel like that would be settling and selling ourselves short of our potential and what we have the chance to do. I don’t think that is the mindset for any of our guys just because we want to leave a legacy.
"Part of that is living the legacy. So how we come in each day, practice and prepare is a compliment to how we play on Saturdays.”
Living the legacy.
When you hear some of Clemson’s leaders speak, like O’Daniel, and if you take away the names beside the quotes, you’d think Dabo Swinney was the one talking.
Swinney has taught his players how to think and that type of championship mentality is what makes Clemson the team it is.
It’s what makes players like Dorian O’Daniel the leaders they are.
You can watch O'Daniels full interview here: