Running back, Clemson, 2017–⁠21

Darien Rencher

Number
No. 21
Height
5′8″
Weight
195 lb
Class (2021)
Senior
Hometown
Anderson, SC

Darien Rencher played running back at Clemson (2017–⁠21).

Team titles: ACC champions, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020; National champions, 2018

Rushing

Rushing yards, season by season, with his team’s record
SeasonTeamCarYdsAvgTDLong
2017Clemson9384.2021
2018Clemson14654.6015
2019Clemson261355.2224
2020Clemson241375.7150
2021Clemson19542.8012
Career924294.7350

Season lines from CollegeFootballData, regular season and bowls.

On the roster

SeasonTeamNo.PosClassHtWt
2017Clemson21RBYr 1
2018Clemson21RBYr 2
2019Clemson21RBYr 3
2020Clemson21RBYr 4
2021Clemson21RBSr. (Yr 5)5′8″195

As each season’s roster listed the player (CollegeFootballData). Classes before the latest listing are counted back from it; “Yr 1” is the year on file where that count can’t place a season he played (a redshirt, transfer or 2020 year); height and weight as last listed.

Per play

SeasonTeamPlaysEPA/playPctileMedianTotalUsage
2017Clemson9-0.07––-0.6–
2018Clemson14-0.21––-3.0–
2019Clemson290.23––6.84%
2020Clemson260.24––6.24%
2021Clemson20-0.07––-1.49%

Expected points added: how much the player’s plays moved the team’s expected score, per play and in total. Plays: total EPA divided by EPA per play, the plays the source credits to him (for a receiver roughly his catches and runs, not every target; for a passer, not every attempt), so it can differ from attempts plus carries. Percentile: against the position’s regulars that season across all divisions on file (quarterbacks with 150+ plays, backs 60+, receivers and tight ends 30+), with how many there were (n) and their median; a dash means too few plays to rank. A season in progress uses the full-season bar scaled by games played, never below 75 plays for quarterbacks, 30 for backs and 20 for receivers. The cohort grows or shrinks with the source’s coverage each season (2025 lists far more players), so compare percentiles rather than raw EPA across years. FCS seasons are marked. Usage: the share of the team’s plays the player was part of (shown from 20 plays). From CollegeFootballData, 2013 on.

Game by game

2021 Clemson 3 games, 54 rushing yards
DateOpponentResultCarYdsTDLongRecRec yds
Sep 11vs.South Carolina StateW 49–⁠341407––
Nov 13vs.UConnW 44–⁠7143701228
Nov 27atSouth CarolinaW 30–⁠01303––
2020 Clemson 9 games, 137 rushing yards, 1 TD
DateOpponentResultCarYdsTDLongRecRec yds
Sep 12atWake ForestW 37–⁠1373408––
Sep 19vs.The CitadelW 49–⁠0428016––
Oct 10vs.MiamiW 42–⁠173504––
Oct 17atGeorgia TechW 73–⁠741104––
Oct 24vs.SyracuseW 47–⁠2121006––
Nov 28vs.PittsburghW 52–⁠172−200215
Dec 5atVirginia TechW 45–⁠10150150––
Dec 19vs.Notre DameW 34–⁠101101––
Jan 1 ✦vs.Ohio StateL 28–⁠49––––––
2019 Clemson 12 games, 135 rushing yards, 2 TD
DateOpponentResultCarYdsTDLongRecRec yds
Aug 29vs.Georgia TechW 52–⁠1462109––
Sep 7vs.Texas A&MW 24–⁠101101––
Sep 14atSyracuseW 41–⁠628041−4
Sep 21vs.CharlotteW 52–⁠102605––
Oct 12vs.Florida StateW 45–⁠14327014––
Oct 19atLouisvilleW 45–⁠101818––
Oct 26vs.Boston CollegeW 59–⁠71303110
Nov 2vs.WoffordW 59–⁠14336124––
Nov 9atNC StateW 55–⁠10110118
Nov 16vs.Wake ForestW 52–⁠331309112
Nov 30atSouth CarolinaW 38–⁠32806––
Dec 7vs.VirginiaW 62–⁠171303––
2018 Clemson 7 games, 65 rushing yards
DateOpponentResultCarYdsTDLongRecRec yds
Sep 1vs.FurmanW 48–⁠721107––
Oct 20vs.NC StateW 41–⁠712021−4
Oct 27atFlorida StateW 59–⁠10215015––
Nov 3vs.LouisvilleW 77–⁠1642008––
Nov 17vs.DukeW 35–⁠61303––
Dec 1vs.PittsburghW 42–⁠1031309––
Dec 29 ✦vs.Notre DameW 30–⁠31101––
2017 Clemson 4 games, 38 rushing yards
DateOpponentResultCarYdsTDLongRecRec yds
Sep 2vs.Kent StateW 56–⁠3427021––
Sep 23vs.Boston CollegeW 34–⁠7––––––
Nov 18vs.The CitadelW 61–⁠32303––
Nov 25atSouth CarolinaW 34–⁠103805––

Box scores from CollegeFootballData, 2004 on. ✦ postseason; ★ a career high on file.

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