CLEMSON — Clemson quarterback Cullen Harper’s injured shoulder hurt so much at the end of last season he might not have played in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game had the Tigers qualified.

Harper banged up his right shoulder in the fourth quarter of a 20-17 loss to Boston College last Nov. 17. The injury, he says, affected his performance in Clemson’s final two games, a win over South Carolina and a loss at the Chick-fil-A Bowl to Auburn.

“I think if we had played in that ACC championship game, I doubt I would’ve been able to play,” Harper said.

The loss to BC cost Clemson its chance for the conference crown.

Harper had arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn labrum two days after the Tigers defeated South Carolina.

Harper got hurt while finishing a 4-yard TD run against the Eagles that temporarily put Clemson in front.

He leaped to avoid BC safety Jamie Silva to cross into the end zone, then was crunched by another player, his shoulder slammed into the Memorial Stadium turf.

Harper came up in pain.

He finished the game showing few effects, even throwing a perfect-looking pass near the goal line with seconds to go that seemed like the game-winner but instead slipped through receiver Aaron Kelly’s hands.

He knew, though, things weren’t right.

“I could barely throw those last couple of passes,” Harper recalled Wednesday.

Harper threw little during the next week’s practice for the rival Gamecocks. Still, he completed 28 of 38 passes for 229 yards, including his 27th TD throw in Clemson’s 23-21 victory.

“It was just extremely uncomfortable,” Harper said. “Everytime I’d throw, it’d feel like it was coming out of place.”

Harper overcame the problems when it counted most. He completed four crucial passes to Kelly on Clemson’s final drive at South Carolina that put the Tigers in position to kick the winning field goal as time ran out.

“I didn’t exactly know where the ball was going to go,” Harper said, laughing.

Kelly said Harper didn’t complain or use the injury as an excuse.

“He didn’t say anything about it,” Kelly said. “He just went out and worked hard and tried to play to the best of his ability and tried to fight through it for the team. I really respect him for that.”

Harper said the shoulder hadn’t fully healed in Clemson’s 23-20 overtime loss to Auburn. He completed just 14 of 33 passes, didn’t have a touchdown pass and managed a season low 104 yards against Auburn’s defense.

Harper was agitated at times after the game, steadfastly refusing to blame his poor play on the injury.

It wasn’t until after the season ended that Harper’s condition improved. By the end of Clemson’s spring game in April, Harper felt his old comfort and strength.

“Right now, it’s 100 percent. Nothing to worry about,” said a smiling Harper.

That’s good news for the Tigers, who figure to be picked to win the ACC this season.

Harper’s a big reason why.

He set 21 records last year, his first as Clemson’s starting quarterback. His 27 TDs surpassed the old single-season mark of 21 shared by Tiger greats Woody Dantzler and Charlie Whitehurst.

He gave a brief look to the NFL before returning to Clemson for his senior season — and what he hopes is great finish to his career.

“Things are definitely a lot different, and definitely for the better,” he says.

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