CLEMSON – Moments after former Clemson running back Adam Randall was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL Draft, after the inevitable hugs and cheers, he had a realization.

“I will not be wearing number eight,” Randall jokingly told family members in a video posted on social media. 

Randall was correct. The Myrtle Beach, S.C., native will bypass his former number as a Tiger because two-time NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson already owns the No. 8 jersey for the Ravens. Instead, Randall selected a consolatory No. 23 jersey for his rookie season.

After nearly a decade of sporting No. 8– which started with a comparison to wide receiver Julio Jones– Randall’s number and team may be changing, but his legacy will live on as a younger running back will take over his jersey for the Tigers.

Gideon Davidson, a rising sophomore who wore No. 9 last season, will inherit Randall’s jersey number, and probably the bulk of his responsibilities in the backfield at Clemson this year.

“I do want to keep that, (Randall’s) little legacy going, walking in his footsteps,” Davidson said in the spring. “I do admire Adam that way. He was like a bigger brother. I really enjoyed hanging out with him. We talked a lot, he gave me a lot of good advice.”

In his senior year at Clemson, Randall spearheaded the bulk of the Tigers’ run-game, notching a team-high 168 carries for 814 yards in his only season as a running back after playing his first three years as a wideout. After quarterback Cade Klubnik, Davidson finished with the third-most carries in 2025, as he tallied 60 for 260 yards as a true freshman.

Through moments of success, like when Davidson rushed for a season-high 51-yards against Duke, or in struggles, like when he missed a block in his collegiate debut that led to an LSU sack, Randall served as a constant source of support for the true freshman.

“The best advice (Randall gave) was to just be me, really,” Davidson said. “Just play football, play fast, not overthinking things. He said I was a good running back in times when I thought I wasn’t, so he really did encourage me.”

Now, with Randall departed for the NFL, Davidson has a chance to step into a larger role in his second season, leading an unproven position group in his predecessor’s absence.

The native of Ghana, who moved to Lynchburg, Va. when he was six, is listed as the youngest running back on the 2026 roster and had already began making the transition in spring practice, according to his coaches.

“I think Gideon has had a really good spring. I really do,” offensive coordinator Chad Morris said in late March. “Gideon’s had a really solid spring. Runs hard… Gideon, to me, has stood out as much as anybody.” 

Head coach Dabo Swinney echoed the praise after Clemson’s Annual Orange & White Spring Game, in which Davidson ran for 80 yards on nine carries, leading all running backs. His longest surge came on a 35-yard burst that set up a four-yard touchdown in the third period.

“(Davidson’s) had a great spring,” Swinney said. “He is the (number) one (running back) coming out of it.”

Ahead of the spring, while Randall was wowing scouts at the NFL Combine and Clemson’s Pro Day, Davidson was looking back on his freshman film, looking at the areas he could improve to live up to the No. 8 jersey and No. 1 spot on the depth chart.

“I felt like I left a lot of yards out there,” Davidson said. “This season I’m really working on reading keys, reading blocks, cutting up-field and getting north and south. That’s kind of my goal this year. Another goal would probably be making guys miss. Looking back, that was kind of my biggest weakness.”

Davidson has four more months, along with a round of summer and fall practices, to hone in on improvements ahead of his second season with the Tigers. He will most likely be put to the test quickly, however, as Clemson will open its season against LSU on Sept. 5.

With Morris’ offense relying heavily on running the football, all eyes will be on Clemson’s new No. 8 this coming season.