16. Ben Boulware
"“35 years. Clemson, y’all been waiting 35 long years. It’s finally coming! It’s coming home baby!”"
That was Ben Boulware’s epic and unforgettable line following the 35-31 victory over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 2017 National Championship game that saw him named the Defensive MVP for the Tigers.
Boulware wasn’t the most athletic or physically-gifted linebacker to ever play the game, but he checks in so highly on this list because of the leadership he provided and that ‘never give up’ mentality that he played with every single play.
Boulware was constantly in on plays that resulted in key stops (see the 2015 two-point conversion stop against Notre Dame for example) and he always seemed to be in the right place when it mattered most. Boulware had some issues in coverage, no doubt, but he made up for what he lost with heart and determination.