THE WEST ZONE message board | SHOP NOW: DEALS on CLEMSON apparel

CLEMSON –- Chris Register heard the speculation during his recruitment, however thinly veiled it came.

The massaged question would go something like, how would he feel if he outgrew linebacker and had to play defensive end.

“I always tried to fight it,” Register said. “But you can’t really fight size.”

Register (6-3, 255) gave up that battle in the spring of 2015 after his first season at Clemson, during which he redshirted.

With starter Austin Bryant sidelined at a position already thin on numbers, the Tigers are hoping Register’s year in training has equipped him to lend depth if necessary early this season.

“I think Register is ready to take a big step forward for this year,” coach Dabo Swinney said. “He’s been very consistent all camp.”