Original walk-on turned team and community leader who concluded his six-year Clemson career from 2016-21 having recorded 93 carries for 437 yards and three touchdowns in 220 snaps over 48 career games … was the first Disney Spirit Award winner in program history after earning the honor in 2020.Â
What a moment!The entire Clemson Football family would like to congratulate @D_Rench_ on being awarded the 2020 Disney Spirit Awardâgiven to college football's most inspirational figure.đ° https://t.co/PzhE6h6pMO pic.twitter.com/vYJ7FZUARn— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) December 1, 2020
What a moment!
The entire Clemson Football family would like to congratulate @D_Rench_ on being awarded the 2020 Disney Spirit Awardâgiven to college football's most inspirational figure.
đ° https://t.co/PzhE6h6pMO pic.twitter.com/vYJ7FZUARn
— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) December 1, 2020
2021: Named to AFCA Good Works Team … Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year semifinalist … gained 62 yards on 19 carries and caught two passes for eight yards over 70 offensive snaps in 13 games … also added a 32-yard kickoff return … contributed on special teams vs. No. 5 Georgia … rushed four times for 14 yards vs. SC State … gained 45 yards on 14 carries, caught two passes for eight yards and had a 32-yard kickoff return vs. UConn … rushed once for three yards at South Carolina.
2020: Won the Disney Spirit Award, presented annually to college footballâs most inspirational player, coach, team or figure … rushed 24 times for 137 yards with one touchdown and caught two passes for 15 yards in 62 snaps over 12 games …Â gained 34 yards on seven rushing attempts vs. Wake Forest … rushed four times for 28 yards vs. The Citadel … gained five yards on three carries vs. No. 7 Miami … rushed four times for 11 yards at Georgia Tech … gained 10 yards on two carries vs. Syracuse … gained 15 yards on two catches and rushed twice vs. Pitt … scored on a career-long 50-yard touchdown run at Virginia Tech in his only touch of the game … rushed once in ACC Championship Game vs. No. 2 Notre Dame.
2019: Recorded 26 carries for 135 yards and two touchdowns on the ground plus four catches for 26 yards in 66 snaps over 13 games … gained 22 yards on six carries vs. Georgia Tech … received one carry vs. No. 12 Texas A&M … rushed twice for eight yards at Syracuse … gained six yards on two carries vs. Charlotte … gained 27 yards on three carries vs. Florida State … scored first career touchdown on an eight-yard run at Louisville … recorded a three-yard rush and a 10-yard reception vs. Boston College … recorded 36 yards and a touchdown on three carries on his 22nd birthday vs. Wofford … rushed once for a yard and caught an eight-yard pass at NC State … gained 13 yards on three carries and caught a 12-yard pass vs. Wake Forest … rushed twice for eight yards at South Carolina … gained three yards on a carry vs. No. 22 Virginia in the ACC Championship Game.
2018: Rushed for 65 yards on 15 carries in 22 snaps over seven games … carried twice for 11 yards vs. Furman … recorded two touches (one rush, one reception) vs. No. 16 NC State … rushed twice for 15 yards at Florida State … gained 20 yards on four rushes vs. Louisville … added three yards on two carries vs. Duke … rushed three times for 13 yards against Pitt … gained a yard on one carry vs. No. 3 Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl.
2017: Had 38 yards on nine carries in 20 snaps over three games … had 27 yards on four carries against Kent State on Sept. 2 … had three yards on two carries against The Citadel on Nov. 18 … had eight yards on three carries at South Carolina on Nov. 25.
2016: Did not appear in a game while redshirting.
Before Clemson: Lettered at T.L. Hanna High School.
Personal: His father, Darwin, was a letterman for Clemson track & field from 1985-87 and was sixth in Tiger history in the outdoor long jump … earned degree in psychology in December 2020 … six-time ACC Honor Roll selection (2016-21) … completed microinternships with Adobe in 2017, Cisco in 2018 and the National Football League in 2019 … named as the 2021 Community MVP for Clemson as nominated by Dabo Swinney at the South Carolina Coaches for Charity event benefiting the Fisher DeBerry Foundation … born Nov. 2, 1997.
This young man is everything RIGHT in the world. Keep inspiring Darien Rencher! @clemsonFB @D_Rench_ pic.twitter.com/8giThYPDgg— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) January 8, 2021
This young man is everything RIGHT in the world. Keep inspiring Darien Rencher! @clemsonFB @D_Rench_ pic.twitter.com/8giThYPDgg
— Holly Rowe (@sportsiren) January 8, 2021