By Hale McGranahan.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Tyshon Dye had become a cult hero after spending one full season and the majority of a second recovering from a pair of significant injuries.

Finally, in the fourth quarter of Thursday night’s 34-20 win over Wake Forest, Dye appeared in his first college game, rushing five times for 14 yards. Carry No. 1, an 8-yard jaunt up the middle of the Demon Deacon defense, was “kind of indescribable” for the former four-star recruit from Elbert, Georgia.

“Because I’ve been through so much,” Dye said, “Just to get that first carry and to get so many yards, it was pretty good.”

Back surgery sidelined Dye in 2013. A torn Achilles during a February workout kept him out of spring practice, summer skills and drills work and preseason camp in 2014.

Dabo Swinney said Dye “probably” would have been the starting running as a true freshman. Instead, the ready-made running back had to wait 21 games before his debut.

“It was great, that was awesome,” Swinney said, after Thursday’s game. “Everybody in that huddle was so fired up to see 23 in the game. You’ve got to understand, we watched him — for a year and a half — just grind and persevere and overcome and keep getting up.”

Artavis Scott, who caught eight passes for 122 yards and two scores against Wake Forest, was on the sidelines for all five of Dye’s carries.

“I’m glad that he got back out there, get a feel for it. It’s been way too long for him,” Scott said. “I know he’s excited. It was just great to see him play.”

Chad Morris had been waiting for that moment as long as anybody. Dye was one of the first high school running backs to receive an offer from Morris, after his arrival as offensive coordinator in 2011.

“It was almost surreal watching him,” Morris said. “I even think he had tears in his eyes before he went in there. That was really special for him.”

Now, with three games left on the 2014 schedule, Dye looks forward to contributing wherever he’s needed.

“I think I can help the team by adding a little bit more power and learning the system a lot better,” he said.

It’s been a long-time coming.

“It’s going to take him some time, but it’s going to be special,” Morris said.