Make no mistake, Adam Randall has been pretty serviceable at running back for Clemson this season.
The converted wideout is averaging more than five yards per carry, and his 24 receptions are the third-most on the team. Having said that, as a senior, Randall’s college career is winding down, and with the Tigers sitting at just 3-4, it’s past time to see what the guys behind him can do.
Seven games into the season, and true freshman Gideon Davidson has only carried the ball 15 times. Redshirt freshman David Eziomume has just 10. By comparison, backup quarterback Chris Vizzina has 22 rushing attempts. He got 15 in one game. Something just seems a little off there.
While still a true freshman, Davidson was one of the five-best running backs in the country during the 2025 recruiting cycle. No one was really expecting him to come in and win the starting job in year one, but 15 carries, seven games in, seems almost criminal considering how the season is playing out.
With Clemson’s running game struggling mightily, something needs to be done to try and create a spark. Add in an offensive line that just isn’t consistently opening running lanes, why not give Davidson a shot at making something out of nothing? True freshman or not, he’s probably more apt to do that than Randall is. We are talking about a player who averaged more than 10 yards per carry during a stellar high school career.
Eziomume is also likely more apt to make something out of nothing when you factor in his speed. The redshirt freshman ran a 10.84 100M during his high school days.
Nobody is talking about reinventing the wheel here, but the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Clemson’s rushing offense currently ranks No. 112 nationally, averaging just 116.4 yards per game.
There is nothing left to lose at this point. The Tigers have to find a way to get more out of the running game. Not to mention getting those two backs a little more prepared for what they might face next season.
Photo by Bart Boatwright