Clemson Coach Praises Alabama Transfer Jeremiah Alexander: “Hardest Working Kid I’ve Ever Seen, His Effort Is Outrageous”

When Clemson linebackers coach Ben Boulware opens his mouth about a player, people in and around the program tend to listen. The former All-American linebacker, known for his grit and relentless motor on the field during his days as a Tiger, doesn’t hand out praise lightly. So when Boulware recently raved about Alabama transfer linebacker Jeremiah Alexander, it turned heads—not just in Clemson, but across the college football landscape.

“The hardest working kid I’ve seen in my entire life,” Boulware said of Alexander. “I’m super pumped to see him experience the fruits of his labor because of how freakin’ hard he’s worked—like, it’s outrageous.”

That kind of endorsement from a man who has played with and coached elite-level talent doesn’t come without weight. Alexander, who transferred from Alabama to Clemson in the offseason, has quickly made a name for himself during the Tigers’ grueling summer training program. His transformation has been more than physical—it’s cultural. He’s injected the Clemson linebacker room with a new edge, something Boulware says was needed.

“He came in like a man on a mission,” Boulware continued. “This is a guy who had every reason to quit or coast. He could’ve said, ‘I was a top recruit, I went to Alabama, I’ll figure it out.’ But he didn’t. Instead, he decided to completely redefine himself and outwork everybody around him.”

Alexander arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2022 as a consensus five-star prospect and one of the crown jewels of Alabama’s recruiting class. A product of Thompson High School in Alabaster, Alabama, he was ranked as one of the top edge rushers in the country and drew comparisons to some of the SEC’s most dominant defenders of the past decade. Expectations were sky-high.

But the pathway at Alabama wasn’t easy. Stuck behind a loaded depth chart and dealing with the natural learning curve of adjusting to college football at its highest level, Alexander saw limited game action during his two seasons with the Crimson Tide. Despite showing flashes of promise in practice and on special teams, meaningful defensive reps were scarce.

The lack of playing time might’ve discouraged other players. But for Alexander, it became fuel.

“I learned a lot at Alabama,” Alexander said in a recent interview. “Coach Saban, that whole staff, they taught me what it takes to compete at this level. Even though I wasn’t playing a ton, I was watching, I was studying, and I was grinding. I just wanted an opportunity to show what I could do.”

That opportunity came in the form of a fresh start at Clemson. The Tigers had a need for experienced linebacker depth after losing Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Barrett Carter to the NFL Draft. They were looking for not only physicality but leadership—someone who could elevate the culture of the defense and step in with a mindset shaped by elite competition.

Enter Alexander.

From day one of spring workouts, Boulware said, Alexander’s presence was undeniable.

“This kid is here before anybody else,” Boulware said. “He’s lifting when everybody else is still getting taped. He’s watching film when his teammates are heading back to their dorms. He’s texting me on Sundays asking for install notes for the week. It’s obsessive—in the best way.”

Teammates have taken notice, too. Junior linebacker Wade Woodaz said Alexander’s work ethic has inspired the entire position group to push harder.

“You just watch how he operates—there’s no off switch,” Woodaz said. “We’ll finish a 90-minute practice, and he’ll go hit the sled for 30 more minutes. That kind of energy is contagious. You want to match it, or you feel like you’re letting him down.”

Alexander, who now weighs in at 245 pounds of sculpted muscle, is expected to play a hybrid linebacker role in defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin’s 4-2-5 scheme. He’s strong enough to hold up against the run, explosive enough to pressure the quarterback off the edge, and cerebral enough to drop into coverage when needed.

But what makes him special, according to the Clemson staff, isn’t just his versatility—it’s his relentlessness.

“He reminds me of some of the guys I played with,” Boulware said. “Like Grady Jarrett or Vic Beasley. Guys that don’t take a single rep for granted. Jeremiah’s built like that. He’s the type of guy that’ll make the people around him better just by being around them.”

While Alexander’s on-field impact is still unfolding, his off-field influence has already been felt in Clemson’s locker room. He’s emerged as a vocal presence during workouts, often calling out younger players for loafing or encouraging them to take another rep. It’s leadership by example, but also by action.

“I’ve always been a guy that believes your actions speak louder than words,” Alexander said. “But at the same time, when you’re trying to build something, you’ve gotta hold people accountable. I want us to be the best linebacker unit in the country, and that doesn’t happen unless we push each other every single day.”

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has praised Alexander’s demeanor as “mature beyond his years” and called him a “program-changer” during his post-spring press conference.

“Jeremiah brings this edge to our team,” Swinney said. “He’s got that SEC toughness, but also this humility and hunger to grow. We knew what kind of player he was coming out of high school, but he’s even more impressive as a young man. He fits right in here.”

The 2025 season could be a breakout campaign for Alexander. With a projected starting role and a chip on his shoulder, the former Alabama standout is aiming to rewrite his story—one play, one rep, one practice at a time.

“I feel like I’ve been given a second chance,” he said. “And I’m not wasting it. I want to be great. Not just for me, but for this team, for this program, for my family. There’s no more waiting. It’s time.”

For Boulware, watching Alexander ascend isn’t just satisfying—it’s inspiring.

“I’ve been around football my whole life,” Boulware said. “And I can honestly say I’ve never seen someone work as hard as this kid. Ever. He deserves every bit of success that’s coming his way. And trust me—it’s coming.”

The Tigers open their season with a primetime showdown against Georgia Tech, and Alexander is already being touted as one of the top players to watch in the ACC. Whether he’s chasing down quarterbacks, plugging run lanes, or leading pregame huddles, one thing is certain: Jeremiah Alexander didn’t come to Clemson to be average. He came to dominate.

And with coaches and teammates alike echoing the same sentiment—he’s earned it—the stage is set for the former five-star to finally shine the way he always believed he could.

If hard work truly pays off, then Alexander might just cash in on one of the biggest seasons in recent Clemson memory.