LSU QB Danny Etling put together a solid 2016 season, but the redshirt junior was dealing with a significant back injury for most of the year.

According to The Advocate, who caught up with Etling at the Manning Passing Academy, Etling dealt with a shooting pain that ran down his entire left leg. The Purdue transfer said he tried not to make a big deal of it so he could continue to play:

“I tried to hide it pretty well,” Etling said Friday afternoon. “I think the trainers always knew. My parents knew it hurt. Everyone kind of knew it hurt, just not how much. Even the coaches didn’t know how much. I think the trainers were the only ones that knew what exactly I was dealing with and how much it was bothering me and stuff like that.”

Etling said he feels much better now, but stopped short of saying he was at 100 percent. He is working toward fixing some bad habits he developed during the last part of the 2016 campaign.

Etling finished the year with 2,123 yards and 11 touchdowns, to go with five interceptions. He’ll have to be even better in 2017 if the Tigers are going to challenge for an SEC West title.