Clemson wide receiver Tristan Smith is very appreciative about his opportunity to play college football one more year.

On Friday, Smith was granted a temporary injunction against the NCAA from the 13th Judicial Circuit in Pickens County, giving him a fifth year of eligibility and clearing him to play during the 2026 football season.

Following Circuit Court Judge Jessica Salvini’s decision, Smith took to social media Friday afternoon to say thank you to “everyone that has been by my side through this whole process.”

“First and foremost I want to thank God, ever since I came to Clemson my relationship with him has been stronger than ever. I want to give a huge thanks to Darren Heitner and his legal team for supporting and fighting for me to be able to run down that hill again.

“I want to thank Coach Swinney, the whole coaching staff, and the Clemson fans for believing in me. I would also like to thank my beautiful mom for encouraging through this process. When times got hard I questioned a lot of things, but my mom told me countless times that God has a plan for me. I also want to thank my agent David Benzaken for encouraging me day in and day out.

“Finally I would like to thank all of my teammates for treating me like a brother and pushing me to get better as a person and a player.”

Smith requested a waiver for an extra year of eligibility, but was denied by the NCAA late last year. He filed a complaint against the NCAA on January 21 in Pickens County after the NCAA’s decision. Clemson University is located in Pickens County.

Smith’s hearing was held in a Pickens County courtroom on Monday, with Circuit Court Judge Jessica Salvini handing down her decision on Friday morning.

After transferring to Clemson ahead of the 2025 season following an outstanding 2024 campaign at FCS school Southeast Missouri State, Smith tallied 24 receptions for 239 yards and a touchdown in 317 offensive snaps over 13 games (four starts) for the Tigers in 2025.

At Southeast Missouri State, he earned second-team Big South-OVC Football Association all-conference honors after catching 76 passes for 934 yards and six touchdowns in 11 games.

Smith spent the first two years of his college career playing at the JUCO level, at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, from 2022-23. He had 14 receptions for 140 yards and a touchdown in 10 games in 2023 after catching two passes for 91 yards and a touchdown in seven games as a freshman in 2022.