CLEMSON – When head coach Dabo Swinney announced in January that Chad Morris would be reassuming his role as Clemson’s offensive coordinator, the rationale was simple.

“I’ve gone back to the future with Chad Morris,” Swinney said. “I got old Marty McFly next to me.”

The sentiment, riddled with references to the 1985 movie, made sense for the hire. Morris served as Clemson’s offensive coordinator from 2011-’14, establishing an up-tempo style of play that helped the Tigers to an ACC Championship in 2011. In that period, Clemson averaged almost 4,000 passing yards per season, along with 2,219 rushing yards.

Along with a ‘Back to the Future’ reference in Morris’ introductory press conference, as well as Swinney’s annual charity ball holding the same 1985 theme, the ‘going back’ sentiment has already seeped into film study for Tiger players.

To familiarize himself with Morris’ system, the one that helped escalate Clemson to national prevalence, running back Gideon Davidson went back and watched film from the 2011-’14 seasons. 

“I went back and watched the 2011-14 or whatever seasons he was here,” Davidson said. “I watched when (quarterback Tajh Boyd) was here too and I really got some of the concept. Obviously, it was new to me. So, when we first installed the install one, I was still a little bit unfamiliar, but I did go back and watch a couple of the games that he coached.”

When Davidson made it to the 2014 season in his film study, he watched former running back Wayne Gallman run through opposing defenses as an 19-year-old redshirt freshman, the same age Davidson will be next season. 

“I was in shock,” Davidson said. “Wayne Gallman is one of the greatest to ever do it here and it was really exciting to watch that. I want to model my game after him and just kind of do what he did here.” 

In Gallman’s redshirt freshman season–-Morris’ last year at Clemson–the back amassed a team-high 769 rushing yards with four touchdowns on 161 carries, as well as 108 receiving yards and a touchdown in nine starts. Gallman’s success, in part, came due to Morris’ belief in using the run game to open passing lanes. 

In 2026, that philosophy still exists.

“We want to be tough and I believe in order for you to be tough, you have to run the football,” Morris said. “You have to be able to present the run in multiple ways and be creative when you do present the run.”

After watching film, working out in the offseason, and looking to step into a bigger role as a sophomore, Davidson was ecstatic to hear his position immediately prioritized from his new offensive coordinator.

“That really made me excited, happy,” Davidson said of Morris’ interview. “I just thought, ‘Oh, here’s an opportunity to improve my skills, my skill sets. Allows me to get more yards.’ It really was exciting when he said, ‘We like to run the ball to throw it.’”

While Morris’ offensive philosophy benefits running backs, as well as tight ends and receivers, it does not come without a bit of a shift in practice. To practice running a fast offense, Clemson players have been moving through spring drills at an increased speed and volume. 

The shift, according to Clemson players and coaches, has been intense and immediate.

“It’s definitely sped up for sure,” Davidson said. But I think after a couple practices, after a couple tempo-up periods, I think it definitely sped up. It got comfortable. But I definitely say it’s a lot faster.”

Davidson, Morris, and the Tigers’ offense have several more practices this month before capping off spring practice with Clemson’s annual Orange & White Spring Game on March 28. 

When Morris, Swinney, and a dominant 19-year-old running back run down the hill to play for the first time in Memorial Stadium, it certainly will feel like an installment of the ‘Back to the Future’ franchise.