Former Army Sgt. Daniel Rodriguez clears final hurdle, will suit up for Clemson

Former Army Sgt. Daniel Rodriguez demonstrates an exercise Feb. 17 as part of a Military Times photo shoot (Mike Morones/Staff)

A former soldier’s quest that started with a YouTube workout video ended Friday, as the NCAA granted Daniel Rodriguez permission to join the Clemson football team for the upcoming season.

Rodriguez earned a Bronze Star and Purple Heart in Afghanistan in October 2009, and also served in Iraq, according to The (Charleston, S.C.) Post and Courier report announcing his eligibility. He left the Army as a sergeant and posted a workout video that caught the attention of many, including our workout folks at the PT365 blog and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney. Rodriguez enrolled at Clemson and will use his GI Bill benefits in lieu of a football scholarship, but he wasn’t sure he’d be able to take the field in 2012 until this recent ruling.

The 5-foot-8, 175-pounder hopes to play wide receiver for the Tigers. Click here and here for more on his path from the war zone to big-time college football.