Clemson Linebackers Coach Says Alabama Transfer Jeremiah Alexander Is the Hardest Working Player He’s Ever Seen in His Life

When Clemson linebackers coach Ben Boulware says someone is the hardest worker he’s ever seen, it’s time to listen. The former Tigers great turned position coach has played and trained with some of the most relentless athletes in college football and beyond. And yet, according to Boulware, Alabama transfer Jeremiah Alexander has set a new standard.

“The hardest working kid I’ve seen in my entire life,” Boulware said with emphasis, eyes wide in conviction. “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.”

Jeremiah Alexander, once a five-star recruit out of Thompson High School in Alabaster, Alabama, was one of the jewels of Alabama’s 2022 recruiting class. A consensus top-15 player nationally and the No. 1 prospect in the state, Alexander arrived in Tuscaloosa with high expectations and SEC dreams. But after two seasons of limited playing time under Nick Saban, the gifted linebacker entered the transfer portal and landed at Clemson in search of a new beginning.

Few outside the Tigers’ program expected Alexander’s impact to be so swift. Even fewer expected the resounding praise he’s drawn from one of the most intense and respected voices in the program’s coaching staff.

“Jeremiah is different,” Boulware said. “A lot of guys say they want it. They say they’ll do the work. But he doesn’t say much — he just grinds. Every morning, every lift, every sprint, he’s the guy setting the tone. And it’s not for show. That’s just who he is.”

Clemson’s linebacker room is no stranger to talent. In recent years, the Tigers have produced All-Americans, first-rounders, and some of the fiercest tacklers in the country. But culture — especially post-Dabo Swinney’s national title runs — has remained paramount. And Alexander, according to those around the program, has embraced that culture with a vigor that has stunned his coaches and teammates.

“He’s a guy who just fits,” said defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin. “You’d think coming from a program like Bama, there might be an ego or an adjustment period. Not with Jeremiah. From day one, it was ‘yes sir,’ ‘what can I do,’ ‘how can I get better.’ He came in and went to work.”

At 6-foot-2 and 245 pounds, Alexander has the physical traits of a prototypical SEC linebacker. His frame is powerful and lean, ideal for the hybrid role Clemson envisions for him — a player who can rush off the edge, plug gaps in the run game, and even drop into coverage when needed. But it’s not just his size or strength that stands out.

“It’s the mental side,” Boulware explained. “This dude studies film like he’s prepping for a doctoral exam. He asks questions that some of our older guys don’t think to ask. He’s obsessed with details. That’s what separates good from great, and great from elite.”

Alexander’s transition into Clemson’s system wasn’t just smooth — it was seamless. From the moment spring workouts began, coaches saw an edge in his preparation, a hunger sharpened by the struggles he faced in Tuscaloosa.

“This wasn’t a kid who transferred because he couldn’t hang,” one staffer noted. “He could’ve stuck it out at Alabama. But he wanted more than snaps — he wanted growth, opportunity, and a chance to be part of something real. That’s why Clemson made sense.”

According to teammates, Alexander has also quickly become a vocal presence in the locker room — not with bravado or hype, but with sincerity.

“He’s one of the realest guys I’ve met,” said junior linebacker Wade Woodaz. “He didn’t come in trying to prove anything to us. He just earned respect with his work. Now, when he speaks, we all listen.”

It’s rare for a player with no previous on-field production to enter a program like Clemson and command this level of admiration. But Alexander’s story is rooted in redemption, not statistics. He’s not chasing accolades; he’s chasing excellence.

The buzz around him isn’t just coming from inside Clemson’s facility. NFL scouts attending spring practices have already taken note of No. 32 — his explosiveness, his instincts, and most of all, the relentlessness with which he trains.

“He doesn’t waste reps,” one scout remarked. “You can tell he’s got something to prove.”

Indeed, Alexander is well aware of the chatter surrounding his time at Alabama. Though he was a heralded signee, his time in crimson saw him mostly relegated to special teams and scout team duties. Injuries and a crowded linebacker room limited his opportunities. Still, Alexander never publicly expressed frustration. His decision to transfer came with grace — and a clear goal.

“I just wanted a fresh start,” Alexander said during his first availability in Tigertown. “I’m grateful for my time at Bama. I learned a lot. But I felt like it was time for something new — somewhere I could grow as a man and a player.”

Clemson’s strength and conditioning staff saw his drive right away. In his first week, Alexander set new personal bests in multiple lifts, outran most of the linebacker room in shuttle drills, and outlasted teammates in competitive cardio sessions.

“It’s not just physical,” said strength coach Joey Batson. “His mentality is elite. That ‘never satisfied’ mindset — you either have it or you don’t. He’s got it.”

As the Tigers prepare for the 2025 season, Alexander is expected to play a crucial role in the linebacker rotation. Whether as a starter or key rotational piece, his impact will be felt — not only through tackles and sacks, but in the tone he sets for a defense looking to return to its dominant roots.

“I think Jeremiah is going to be one of the biggest steals in the country,” Boulware said confidently. “People don’t realize what’s coming. This kid’s about to make noise, and it’s because of the work he put in when nobody was watching.”

For Alexander, the recognition is humbling — but the job isn’t finished.

“I haven’t done anything yet,” he said with a quiet smile. “All this work, it’s just the beginning. I came here to be great. That’s the standard I hold myself to.”

Boulware echoed that sentiment with a smirk of his own.

“If you’re a Clemson fan, remember the name. Jeremiah Alexander. You’re gonna be hearing it a lot this fall.”

And if you ask anyone inside the Tigers’ building, there’s no doubt: He’s earned every bit of it.