He was like a high school student-athlete on Monday night.
His helmet was on, he stood beside his head coach, he yearned for an opportunity, and yet he was not provided a fighting chance. The once dread-headed assassin walked off the field in tears as a true freshman, as he watched Dabo Swinney and Clemson hoist the 2017 College Football Playoff Trophy (2016 season) after defeating Alabama by a score of 35-31 in Tampa, Fla.
A photo of the Tigers in jubilation was his screensaver for the entire offseason: a use of motivation for him to help the team get back to the big stage again and face Clemson.