The No. 90 stretched across the back of former Clemson All-American Shaq Lawson will long be remembered by most opposing quarterbacks in the ACC. It was the number seen breaking its way through the opposing offensive line determined to enter the pocket and put the quarterback where every defensive end wants him, on the ground.

Wearing the No. 90 jersey during his football career at nearby Daniel High School, Lawson dreamed of one day playing for the Tigers, while wearing that same number in a national title game.

“I have been dreaming since I was a little kid to play in the national championship,” he said recently.

Surprisingly, football wasn’t the only dream the defensive end had. He loved the game of basketball and was good at it as well.

“We weren’t even sure we were going to recruit him,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “He was a guy not really committed to football. He liked football and was good at football, but he was a basketball player. He was going to the NBA. Then I think he realized that he wasn’t a point guard, so he got a little bit more serious about football practice.”

Lawson’s seriousness for football really paid off as he was named First-Team All-America and was selected as a finalist for the Nagurski Award, which goes to the most outstanding defensive player in the country, and the Lombardi Award, for the country’s best lineman or linebacker.

“It’s about just being disruptive every time I get on the field, bringing my best A-game every time I step on the field,” Lawson said, “That’s pretty much what I took from Vic (Beasley) and Grady Jarrett and all those guys.”

He took that and has one of the best seasons in Clemson history for a defensive player. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound defensive end racked up a total of 25.5 tackles for loss and 12.5 sacks in 2015.

And far as making his childhood dreams come, Lawson totaled four tackles and two sacks against Alabama during the national title game, while playing with an injured knee.

“He loves stuff like that. He likes challenges,” Swinney said.

Known for his combination of power, size, and quickness, Lawson decided before the Orange Bowl that he was going to skip his senior year at Clemson and enter the 2016 NFL Draft. In having to make this difficult decision, he left a little bit of advice to other players who will be left with the same decision in the future.

“They have to sit down with their family and talk about it. That’s pretty much what I did. I sat down with my family and talked about it and made the decision for myself. When you do it, you have to make sure you are doing it for yourself,” Lawson said.

In hanging up his No. 90 jersey drenched in his blood, sweat, and tears, the All-American is confident he will watch the Tigers compete in the national championship game again next season.

“Clemson is coming back. They are going to be in the national championship every year. I’m looking forward to coming and watching these guys compete for a championship next year,” he said.

If you haven’t already order your copy today of Guts & Glory – Tales of Clemson’s Historic 2015 Football Season to help you celebrate and remember this special season.