CLEMSON — When Clemson opened spring practice earlier this year, wideout Tristan Smith had no idea whether he’d ever suit up again to play at Clemson.

Last year, the NCAA denied a waiver for Smith to be granted a fifth year of eligibility, so when the Tigers left Yankee Stadium after having lost to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl, Smith had no idea what the future looked like regarding his football career.

In January, he filed a complaint against the NCAA in a Pickens County Court, and over the next few months, Smith wasn’t sure he’d be allowed to play again. However, that didn’t stop him from attacking the spring with the mindset that he was going to play, as he was allowed to participate in all team activities while waiting on his court date. That is, until an ankle injury sidelined him for the back half of spring ball.

“I would say the process went really smooth,” Smith said. “I had all the coaches, my lawyer, my agent — I had all of them in my corner. Even while I was going through my court case, I was still lifting weights, I was still doing everything with the team, so I was still on the team, not away from the team, si I didn’t really think nothing of it.”

In June, Smith and his legal team were finally allowed to plead their case, and a few days later, Smith had his ruling, as he was granted a temporary injunction granting him a fifth year of eligibility.

“I knew I was going to ge tthe news that Friday,” Smith said. “I was anxious the whole week, I was nervous, I was scared, but that day came, and as soon as I got home, I took a nap during my free time, I woke up to an email, ‘winners are going to win,’ from my lawyer, and I just broke down in tears. As soon as I got that news, coach Swinney called me. He was the first one to call me. And I think every coach on the coaching staff called me. Every coach, all the players called me. It just goes to show how the love, the tradition and the family is here.”

Having Smith back gives the Tigers’ wide receiver room a big boost from a depth standpoint. After gaining valuable experience during his first season at Clemson, Smith feels he now has even more to offer, particularly in a Chad Morris offense that loves to take shots down the field.

Although what Smith really wants is to win, and him having the fifth season gives him one more opportunity to do just that.

“I want to win a championship. A national championship with my teammates,” Smith said. “That is all that it is at the end of the day. Just win a national championship. I got one more shot.”