When middle linebacker Anthony Waters suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Clemson’s 2006 season opener, it created a leadership void the Tigers couldn’t fill.

Who could have imagined that they’d still be struggling to do so two years later?

Yet that’s exactly what Vic Koenning said Saturday.

Clemson’s outspoken defensive coordinator echoed the sentiment of his boss, Tommy Bowden, by saying the Tigers had a glaring need for leadership from their front seven defensive players — the linemen and linebackers.

Without it, achieving the huge expectations Clemson is pegged for this season — an ACC title, BCS game and maybe more — could disappear as quickly as Waters did two years ago.

“Leadership has got to come from the front seven on defense, has to,” Koenning said. “I’ve hardly ever seen it come from the back four guys, and be great, because they’re just not your tough guys. You start talking about your big leaders over the years and it’s usually one of those tough linebackers or linemen.

“That’s where we’ve got to have the guys. You can’t be a leader when you’re caring more about yourself and your teammates know that. When guys start sacrificing for the good of their teammates, and their teammates see that and feel that, then they’ll be accepted as leaders.”

There is no lack of candidates, to be certain.

Koenning himself ripped off four in about 30 seconds: defensive end Ricky Sapp, defensive tackle Dorell Scott, linebacker Scotty Cooper and linebacker Kavell Conner.

But none of them have exhibited those crucial pick-me-up qualities yet.

Redshirt freshman linebacker Brandon Maye has the inner fire Waters harnessed and is by far the most vocal defender. But his next college snap will be his first, and his coaches say his emotions control him at times.

Michael Hamlin was elected team co-captain by his teammates as a junior, but he’s a safety, disqualifying him from the “front seven” requirement.

Still, the guy is trying.

The other day, Koenning said, trainers forgot to set out cups for the defensive line’s Gatorade during a practice break. So, Hamlin went across the field and brought a tray to them on his own.

“Little stuff like that may sound trivial, but it’s not,” Koenning said. “Things gotta come, like you hear about running backs doing stuff for the O-line. You’d like to have everybody doing it, but that’s not generally the age that we live in, but that’s what we’re doing as parents, trying to teach them how to be like that.”

In other words, be selfless, forget about the hype, help your teammates and good things will happen.

“If they’ll get off the Internet, if they won’t read the papers and worry about themselves, that’s part of our job,” Koenning said. “If they don’t do just right, they’ve got to do four sets of 18 packer drills until they quit believing.”

Work your butt off, practice tunnel vision and maybe — just maybe — hoist a trophy at season’s end.

Sounds like a potent recipe.