By Will Vandervort.

The last three seasons have been a blur for Clemson wide receiver Daniel Rodriguez.

When he came to Clemson in 2012, he was a walk-on wide receiver who was fulfilling a promise he made to a fallen friend while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces as part of the War in Afghanistan. On Dec. 18, he will graduate with a degree in parks, recreation & tourism management.

In between, he has written a book about his tragic story from the war, signed a movie deal based on the book and has represented American War Veterans with great pride and admiration on days like today – Veterans Day.

“There is no description for what I have experienced. It is just one big blur,” Rodriguez said. “I try to make the most of it. I wake up happy every day. I get to go out here and compete on the field and get a great degree from the university at the end of it.

“Everything else has fallen into place and I put it into perspective. It’s not what I came here for. I came here to live out a dream and keep a promise to a friend and get my education Check, check and the final check comes Dec. 18. It has just been a blessing.”

Rodriguez was blessed again on Tuesday when the Clemson wide receiver was named the third recipient of the Armed Forces Merit Award, presented by the Football Writers Association of America.

The Armed Forces Merit Award was created in June 2012 “to honor an individual and/or a group with a military background and/or involvement that has an impact within the realm of college football.”

“It is a bit surreal with everything going on, and what Veterans Day means for so many people including myself. It’s a day that is emotional for me,” Rodriguez said. “Obviously, I live with things year in and year out of what I have been through with the struggles and the friends that I have lost. Veterans Day is recognition and it is kind of highlighted.

“So in a funky sense it is kind of emotional than most days because you are kind of remembered all the time and it is kind of thrown in your face with remembering. For me, it is kind of difficult, but hearing the award that I won and what that means and representing Clemson in the way that it does, it is just an honor to have that award.”

Attending Clemson on the GI Bill, Rodriguez was offered a spot on the 2012 Clemson team as a walk-on after head Coach Dabo Swinney saw a video about the former U.S. Army Sergeant and recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device for his heroism at Kamdesh in Afghanistan.

Since starting his Clemson career in 2012, Rodriguez has played in 35-straight games for the Tigers. He has 10 receptions during his career with one touchdown.

“I try not to go into anything or receive anything with just personal recognition. I love it when I get to represent my school and wear the Tiger Paw nationally,” he said. “I think anything I get for being here and representing the school in the right way is awesome for the program. It means a lot to me to represent the school when I get the opportunity like this.”

While serving in the Army (2006-10), Rodriguez served approximately 18 months in Iraq and one year in Afghanistan. He was involved in the Battle of Kamdesh in Afghanistan on Oct. 3, 2009 when 300 Taliban insurgents battled with 38 U.S. troops (eight Americans lost their lives and 22 were injured, including Rodriguez).

Swinney believes Rodriguez’s “presence has helped the team, and he never forces his leadership. It has really made the team appreciate our military and realize that there are a lot more problems in the world than our third-down conversion rate.”

Sammy Watkins, Clemson’s all-time leading receiver and the fourth overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft, spoke highly of his former teammate.

“I loved having him on our team,” Watkins said. “He’s a motivator and he brings fire to our team. Daniel’s hyped up every day, hyped up just to be living. We know what he’s been through. I like the way he comes in every day and goes to work, just like everybody else.

“He practices hard, he plays hard.”

Former quarterback Tajh Boyd, the Tigers’ all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns, said that “when you come to Clemson, you learn about the military heritage and history, but when you’ve got a guy like Daniel on your team, it changes your whole perspective. It’s exciting to have him on our team.”

Rodriguez was honored when learning of those remarks from his former teammates.

“When I hear from guys like that and knowing what they mean to the program, it means a lot,” he said. “Having an impact in the locker room, especially with guys like that in there, and still having somewhat of a pull, it meant a lot.”

Though he wishes he scored a few more touchdowns and maybe started a few more games, Rodriguez says he can’t complain too much because at the end of the day he is still part of a team and he is fulfilling his dream of playing college football at the highest level possible.

“I wanted more of a role, but I’m still having fun. I have a great relationship and I’m competing,” he said. “You never know when your number is going to be called.

“At the end of the day the opportunities I have had here at Clemson and the friendships I have made in the locker room are priceless and they will go a lot longer than what the stats are going to be. You always have to keep the perspective that you might not be fulfilling your personal goals, but you are still doing something more for a team.

“That’s the perspective I like to keep light on.”

After his football career at Clemson is over and he graduates, Rodriquez plans to begin his career in public speaking where he will share his story as well as promote his book that went on sell last month. He also plans to move to Los Angles, where he will help produce a movie that is based off his book.

“It is very flattering. It is one of those things I try not to get too involved in and promote. I want it to be about the football team and winning right now,” he said. “I try to keep my personal life personal and not mainstream. I like the social media ban, that’s excellent. Daniel’s time will come when Daniel graduates. Right now, I’m a part of Clemson’s football team and that is what I need to focus on.

“The book is great. It is a wonderful opportunity. They wanted to release it during the season on the book side of things so they could promote it before Christmas and have better sales. Then, when I graduate, I can go on book tours and speaking tours.”

But for the next two months, Rodriguez says he plans to ride his moped, go to class and play football. He tries not think too much about where life will take him when he is done at Clemson because right now the only thing that matters is what happens today.

That’s a trait he learned a long time ago.

“My five-year plan? Ask me in five years,” he said. “I don’t like to think too far ahead. I like to take advantage of the moment and never get too far out of my zone. Make the most of what is happening around me and make the most of the situation so we will see.

“I need to stay focused on the present and not worry about what tomorrow brings. There are a lot of things that I have been exposed to. People know about the book and all of this, but for me I just try to stay humbled. I’m still me, riding around on a moped and going to class.”