The 99^th offensive play of Clemson’s national championship win against Alabama was the biggest both for Clemson and for former walk-on receiver Hunter Renfrow.

With one second remaining and the Tigers trailing by three, quarterback Deshaun Watson found Renfrow on the right side of the end zone for a game-winning touchdown that no doubt cements both players’ legacy at the university.

Watson, the star quarterback and two-time Heisman Trophy finalist, was already going to go down as one of the greatest players to wear a Clemson uniform. But Renfrow, a junior, became an unlikely success story.

Refrow, who is 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, was a star baseball player in high school, but opted to walk-on to the Clemson football program. After spending a redshirt season on the scout team in 2014, he earned a scholarship in 2015 and started to carve out a niche as a sure-handed slot receiver. He came of age against Alabama in last year’s title game, so it was no surprise that he played a factor in Clemson’s 35-31 victory.

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“Yeah, never in a million years,” Renfrow said when asked whether he ever thought he’d catch the game-winning touchdown in the national championship. “It’s been such a journey for me. It’s like I got knocked out in the third quarter and this was all a dream. I think my faith in God really got me through, just passing up the money to go to App State and come and playing for a guy like Coach Swinney, and a quarterback like Deshaun is pretty special.”

Refrow was instrumental in putting the Tigers in a position to win the game in the first place. He scored a touchdown in the third quarter to pull the Tigers within 17-14 and helped earn a big first down on the final drive with 28 seconds remaining.

Despite Renfrow’s previous walk-on status, Watson’s faith in him never wavered. On the Tigers’ final scoring play, the ball was always intended for Refrow. Not receiver Mike Williams, the future first-round NFL draft pick, or star tight end Jordan Leggett, but the smallish receiver from Myrtle Beach, S.C., who embodied the heart and soul of the Clemson team.

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“I knew if Tay make his block and get the little pick, Renfrow was going to get in the end zone,” Watson said of the play. “I kind of smiled, and I knew before I even snapped the ball it was going to be a touchdown. All I had to do was just get the ball to him. I slowed down the moment, everyone made their blocks and did their part, and I did my part, and we pulled it out.”

Added Refrow: “I just knew I was going to have to give everything I had. I’ve dreamed about it since I was a kid, all of us, and I couldn’t let these seniors go down like we did last year. Just love them, and just appreciative for the opportunity.”

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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday