Which newcomer could make the biggest impact for Clemson during the 2025 season?

ESPN weighed in on that this week, predicting the top newcomer for each team in the outlet’s updated Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings.

For the Tigers, ESPN pegged true freshman running back Gideon Davidson as the top newcomer.

Davidson – the No. 3 running back and No. 59 overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, per ESPN – generated a lot of buzz and drew plenty of praise this spring after enrolling at Clemson in January.

“The third-best running back in the 2025 ESPN 300, Davidson is a great example of how enrolling early can help springboard a freshman toward an immediate impact,” ESPN’s Billy Tucker wrote. “Early signs are that he resembles Travis Etienne with his quick read and cut ability and could step in immediately to help replace 1,100-yard rusher Phil Mafah. Davidson was Virginia’s 2024 Gatorade Player of the Year and tallied more than 8,000 yards from scrimmage as a high schooler. His youth shouldn’t hold him back given Clemson’s otherwise inexperienced running back room.”

Star quarterback Cade Klubnik is among the members of the Clemson team who have been highly impressed by Davidson, and during spring practice, Klubnik compared Davidson to Etienne – who wore the same No. 9 that Davidson is now sporting as a Tiger.

A unanimous four-star prospect, Davidson helped Liberty Christian Academy (Va.) to an undefeated season and a second straight state championship in 2024, when he was credited with 2,054 rushing yards on 223 attempts (9.2-yard average) with 34 rushing touchdowns.

So, what can fans expect to see from Davidson in his first year as a Tiger?

“Davidson isn’t as big as Mafah, but he’s faster and will add a more explosive cutback element on zone runs,” Tucker wrote. “His great vision and speed should fit nicely into Clemson’s schemes. Clemson could utilize him quickly as a change-of-pace, all-purpose back if he’s not the featured back by the time the season opens. Clemson’s experienced passing game is the perfect antidote to take some pressure off the freshman.”

Davidson and Clemson will open the 2025 season against LSU at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 30.

After winning the 2024 ACC Championship and making the College Football Playoff for the first time since the 2020 season, Clemson (10-4, 7-1 ACC in 2024) is ranked No. 2 in ESPN’s post-spring Way-Too-Early Top 25.