CLEMSON — When Keith Adams, Jr., decided to leave Clemson and enter the transfer portal, the Tigers looked at it as an opportunity.

“We had a running back that decided to go on and play somewhere else,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said. “We had a spot, so let’s get something different. Something different than what we have.”

What did they do?

They got Chris Johnson, Jr.

Johnson was a transfer from SMU, who has speed. He has lots of speed. He is considered by some to be the fastest running back in the country.

Last season, Johnson was clocked at 22.3 mph. In high school, he won Florida’s 3A state titles in the 100- and 200-meters during his high school days.

“We recruited Chris out of high school,” Swinney said. “He came in here on a visit, so we knew a lot about him. Reached out to Rhett [Lashlee], talked a lot about him.”

Being one of the fastest backs in the nation, Johnson adds an interesting dynamic to a running back room at Clemson that already features rising sophomore Gideon Davidson.

“He is fast, fast,” Swinney said. “He brings a unique skillset. When you talk about threatening horizontally and vertically, he is touchdown fast, meaning if he breaks a tackle, it is a touchdown. If they miss a tackle, it is a touchdown. I think he still has the 200-meter record in the state of Florida. A really unique guy.”

Johnson rushed 479 yards and four touchdowns as a redshirt sophomore with the Mustangs in 2025. He averaged more than seven yards per carry. He also had 17 catches for another 180 yards and a score.

One of his best games came against the Tigers. In last year’s game at Memorial Stadium, he totaled 99 all-purpose yards, which included a 30-yard rush, a 25-yard reception and a 6-yard touchdown that sealed SMU’s victory.