These two Clemson freshmen are primed to make an instant impact during the upcoming college football campaign, writes one national outlet.

CBS Sports highlighted various freshmen “poised to provide major production (and in some cases, blossom into superstars) during the 2025 season.”

A couple of Tigers made the list, including highly touted running back Gideon Davidson.

Davidson – the No. 5 running back and No. 121 overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, per 247Sports – generated a lot of buzz and drew plenty of praise this spring after enrolling at Clemson in January.

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.

When he signed with Clemson in December, Davidson had amassed 7,438 rushing yards on 701 carries in his prep career, a 10.53-yard average, with 118 rushing touchdowns.

“No blue-chip running back from the 2025 class enters a better situation for early playing time than Davidson,” CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer wrote. “Behind just 295 yards in 2024, Jay Haynes was set to return as the Tigers’ leading rusher, but he tore his ACL in December. Everyone else in the room has even less experience or — in the case of Adam Randall — is new to the position after making the switch from wide receiver. That’s what makes Davidson so intriguing.

“247Sports’ No. 5 back averaged more than 10.5 yards per carry in his high school career and has hit sub-10.7 seconds in the 100-meter dash. He also put together a strong spring. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney called Davidson a “natural” as he pushed his way up the depth chart.”

Along with Swinney, 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 Clemson legend Travis Etienne – who wore the same No. 9 that Davidson is now sporting as a Tiger.

Clemson defensive tackle Amare Adams is also featured on CBS Sports’ list of freshmen set to make an impact in 2025.

Like Davidson, Adams is another player who generated no shortage of buzz during spring practice after joining the Tigers in January.

A five-star prospect and one of the nation’s top-ranked recruits regardless of position, Adams signed with Clemson in December having collected 250 career tackles, 40 tackles for loss and 14 sacks in his prep career.

The 6-foot-4, 285-pound product of South Florence (S.C.) High School posted 66 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, four sacks and nine quarterback pressures in his senior season prior to the early signing period.

Before impressing at Clemson in the spring, Adams turned heads at the Navy All-American Bowl in San Antonio in January and earned the organization’s Anthony Muñoz Lineman of the Year award, while he was also selected to the South Carolina team for the 2024 Shrine Bowl.

“Yep, another Tiger. There’s a reason for that: Swinney plays more freshmen than any other blueblood coach,” Hummer wrote. “Clemson rarely dips into the portal to backfill its roster, which means first-year players, even during a season in which the Tigers return almost everyone, can see the field early. Adams will be one of those freshmen. Swinney made that determination way back in March: “He’s going to help us. That’s what we’ve seen.”

“The 6-4, 285-pounder wrecked games in high school. He did the same at the Navy All-American Bowl, an annual showcase of the best high school prospects. Adams is massive, powerful and the type of interior defender capable of consistently generating backfield pressure. Given Clemson struggles on the interior last year behind Peter Woods, Adams projects as an ideal rotational piece after Woods and DeMonte Capehart on the depth chart.”

A couple of freshmen for opponents on Clemson’s 2025 schedule – LSU cornerback DJ Pickett and Florida State wide receiver Jayvan Boggs – also appeared on the CBS Sports impact freshmen list.