Looking back on his true freshman season at Clemson, and how he got to where he is, K’Von Wallace summed up his reflections concisely.

“I’m blessed, really,” the defensive back said at Clemson’s media day before the national championship game against Alabama in January. “There’s not much else to say.”

It wasn’t until after the national championship game against Alabama a year earlier in January 2016 that Dabo Swinney first heard of Wallace.

In the days after the game, once Swinney and Clemson found out that Mackensie Alexander, T.J. Green and Jayron Kearse were leaving early for the NFL, the Tigers found themselves in the market for defensive backs after initially not having any scholarships for DBs, and thus not planning to take any in the 2016 class.

So, about three weeks before signing day, Clemson conducted its research and evaluations before taking to the recruiting trail in an eleventh-hour effort to land some late commitments.

Wallace, a high-three star prospect from Highland Springs, Va., whose recruiting stock took off during a strong senior season, emerged on Clemson’s radar following a conversation between Swinney and Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer.

“Urban and I had a funny conversation about K’Von,” Swinney said in December. “He didn’t know about him either. He was at the airport in DC and literally turned the plane around to go back because he needed to go see this kid. He was one of those guys that really blew up toward the latter part of his senior year.”

Clemson offered Wallace, a Cincinnati commitment at the time, on Jan. 24, 2016. Ohio State followed suit two days later.

Swinney then convinced Wallace to take a mid-week visit to Clemson that week, and on signing day a week later, he inked with Clemson.

Less than a year later, he won the national championship with Clemson.

“It’s a blessing, man. This is a one-in-a-million opportunity,” Wallace said. “Not everybody gets this opportunity, especially as a true freshman, and to also contribute in this opportunity is even more of a blessing.”

As a senior at Highland Springs High in 2015, Wallace was a first-team all-state selection on both sides of the ball. He helped lead his team to its first state championship since 1961, accounting for 1,094 yards receiving and rushing combined.

Clemson told Wallace when recruiting him that he would have an opportunity to play right away for the Tigers and help fill a void in the secondary. Clemson made good on that promise, with Wallace appearing in all 15 games and logging over 100 snaps at safety and nickel.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder recorded six tackles, including a tackle for loss, and a quarterback pressure. He also notched his first career interception in Clemson’s overtime win against N.C. State in October.

Wallace said the game began to slow down for him as his playing time increased during the year.

“I learned to slow the game down and how to handle situations, knowing what I need to do, knowing what the opponent is doing at the time and just doing my best,” he said. “There’s just a lot that I’ve learned this year, and I’m continuing to learn.”

Clemson’s staff has raved about Wallace’s versatility and ability to play any position in the secondary, and he said the confidence the coaches showed in him as a first-year player was encouraging.

“Definitely played with an edge knowing that they believe in me,” he said, “and I believe in myself as well.”

Regardless of where Wallace plays, his role figures to expand as a sophomore. He has made it clear that he’s willing to slide in wherever Clemson sees fit.

“Anywhere the team needs me at, I will play,” he said.

Wallace can’t wait for spring practice to kick off on March 1. Until then, he’s doing what he can to be ready for the opportunities that come his way.

“It’s really just encouragement to become a better player each and every year,” Wallace said of his freshman season. “Just keep doing what I’m doing, grind, and everything will happen for itself.”