Waiting for an opportunity hasn’t always been easy for Clemson running back Gideon Davidson, but he’s dealt with worse.

Coming into the season, there were high expectations for the freshman, who was one of the top-rated backs in the last recruiting class. With the emergence of Adam Randall, as well as some of the struggles the Tigers have had running the ball, the opportunities were limited during the team’s first seven games.

In last weekend’s loss to Duke, Davidson finally got the chance to show what he can do, and the freshman did not disappoint, rushing for 51 yards on 12 carries, with both of those being career highs. He added 44 receiving yards, another career high.

“It was difficult at first, but I really just used it as motivation,” Davidson said. “Just keeping my head down, working harder, listening to what the coaches were saying. I knew I would eventually be getting an opportunity, and when I did, I would take control of that opportunity when it presented itself.”

“I was a little bit nervous at the beginning. I eventually got in the groove of things. I was really excited to get out there and show what I can do. I just went with the flow, stuck with my natural abilities, and what the coaches have taught me.”

After being a star at the high school level, sitting was something Davidson was not all that accustomed to, but he always knew at a certain point, his number would be called. He just had to remain patient.

“I have learned to be resilient,” Davidson said. “Kind of just focused on what I can control. There’s been a lot of ups and downs, but I feel like I have learned to control my emotions, control my physical ability to play football. Focused on myself, trying to further my ability to play running back. To deal with the ups and downs.”

For Davidson, the running part always came naturally. It was some of the things running backs have to do at the collegiate level when the ball is not in their hands that he had to learn. For example, the pass blocking, an area the freshman feels like he has really made strides in.

“I have improved a lot,” Davidson said. “In high school, I didn’t pass block a lot. Coach (Matt) Luke has done a great job of implementing that in the RB room. He gets with us mostly every other day to make sure we know what we are doing.”

The limited opportunities haven’t been the only thing Davidson wasn’t used to. The freshman helped his team to back-to-back state titles over the final two seasons of his high school career, so experiencing a 3-5 start to the season was also something he’s not dealt with in recent years.

However, Davidson’s journey to Clemson has prepared him for how to deal with all types of adversity. He was born in Bolgatanga, Ghana, and his birth father died before he was born. About a year later, flooding led to devastation in the area in which he lived.

Davidson and two of his brothers would end up spending more than a year in an orphanage before being adopted by a family in Indiana. Less than three years later, the three were up for adoption again before finding their forever home with the Davidson family.

So Davidson has seen much worse than a disappointing season and limited playing time, and his life experience has prepared him to face whatever challenges might come his way.

“A losing season has not been the hardest part of my life,” Davidson said. “I have been adopted twice. My village back in Africa was ruined by a flood. My parents couldn’t really raise me. Two of my brothers were adopted with me. I would say I have been through more difficult times.”

Photo by Bart Boatwright