CLEMSON — Following Clemson’s win over Louisville last week, Dabo Swinney told us why he did not need a running back out of the transfer portal last year.

Adam Randall ran for 105 yards and two touchdowns in the Tigers’ one-point victory, including the game winner midway through the fourth quarter. He also had a 25-yard TD run in the second quarter.

“That’s why we didn’t go to the portal and get a back, because we had Adam Randall,” Swinney said. “And that guy deserves everything. I love that kid. I mean, he’s amazing.”

Randall also added three receptions for 27 yards, bringing his production to 132 all-purpose yards. The senior from Myrtle Beach, S.C., has 675 yards and 8 TDs on the ground, while adding 29 receptions for 239 yards and three more scores.

The Tigers (5-5) have definitely gotten a lot of production from Randall. But there is not going to be an Adam Randall on next year’s team, and if Clemson wants to see the running back position continue to upgrade then it likely will have to dive into the portal this off-season and find one.

Why?

For one, the Tigers will not have a proven running back on the roster.

At the moment, freshman Gideon Davidson is second on the team with 173 yards on 41 carries. The next closest back is Keith Adams, Jr. with 11 carries for 67 yards. David Eziomume has 10 carries for 37.

However, Eziomume has not played in the last three games. It makes you wonder if he, along with Jarvis Green and Jay Haynes, will return next season. You figure, at least one of them will enter the transfer portal when it opens on Jan. 2.

What will the Tigers do at running back?

They are not bringing in any high-level running backs out of high school, which tells me they want Davidson to be the guy next year. However, they are going to need a few more bodies in the room to compete and they definitely need someone with experience who can challenge Davidson.

Though Swinney is pleased with the Randall project, Clemson cannot afford to go into next season without a proven running back at either No. 1 or No. 2.

The transfer portal is where the Tigers should find someone to meet their needs. And he does not have to be a high-caliber one if they do not want one.

Go find someone like Virginia did with J’Mari Taylor from North Carolina Central. Taylor, a former walk-on, ran for 1,146 yards and 15 TDs in 2024 before entering the portal and enrolling at Virginia.

He has come in and currently leads the Cavaliers with 807 tards and 10 TDs.

Swinney and his offensive coaches, whomever that might be, have to go in and grab someone like Taylor or find an elite level tailback.

Clemson proved with wide receiver Tristan Smith it can still evaluate talent and find good players in the portal. This year, they need to go find a proven running back.