CBS Sports highlighted 17 “second-year stars” in college football – “sophomore standouts that will define the 2026 playoff race.”

Clemson running back Gideon Davidson made the list, checking in at No. 14.

“If there’s any hope that Dabo Swinney’s hire of Chad Morris as offensive coordinator works out this fall, Davidson’s production is paramount to that development,” CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford wrote. “He rushed 60 times for 260 yards and had 11 receptions over 190 snaps as a true freshman in 2025 and now gets first-team reps for the first time as a versatile threat of sorts. The Tigers signed Chris Johnson (SMU) in the portal to provide backfield assistance, but Davidson is a former four-star with track speed that this coaching staff expects to have an eye-popping campaign.”

With Adam Randall now in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens after serving as Clemson’s No. 1 running back last season, Davidson has a chance to step into a larger role in his second season, leading an unproven position group in his predecessor’s absence.

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

Davidson led all running backs with 80 yards on nine carries in Clemson’s annual spring game on March 28, including a 35-yard burst that set up a touchdown in the third quarter.

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

A lot of the attention on Clemson’s running back room last offseason was centered around Davidson — the No. 3 running back and No. 59 overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting class, per ESPN. Davidson generated a ton of buzz and drew plenty of praise from coaches and teammates alike over the offseason after enrolling at Clemson in January 2025.

Davidson more than proved his worth at the high school level, helping lead his Liberty Christian (Va.) team to a state title in each of his final two seasons. In 2023, he earned MaxPreps National Junior of the Year honors. As a senior, he was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Virginia after rushing for 2,341 yards with 37 touchdowns.

In addition to Davidson, CBS Sports’ list of 17 college football second-year stars includes several players that Clemson is scheduled to face during the 2026 regular season — Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney (No. 1 on the list), Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele (No. 2), LSU cornerback DJ Pickett (No. 4), Miami safety Bryce Fitzgerald (No. 9), Florida State edge Mandrell Desir (No. 11) and South Carolina wide receiver Jayden Sellers (No. 16).

–The Clemson Insider’s Ashby Mixon contributed to this story