Adam Randall at Running Back, 'If It Goes the Way We Hope, He’s Going to Be a Problem'
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Clemson football opened spring practice on Friday with a few notable position changes. Redshirt sophomore receiver Misun "Tink" Kelley worked with the defensive backs, while redshirt sophomore tight end Markus Dixon transitioned to defensive end. However, the most intriguing shift came from senior wide receiver Adam Randall, who lined up in the backfield. After unveiling his ability as a ball carrier in Clemson’s 38-24 College Football Playoff loss to No. 3 Texas, Randall is now officially taking reps at running back—a move that has captured the attention of coaches, teammates, and fans.
Randall's transition comes at a pivotal time for the Tigers, who are searching for answers at running back following the departure of star rusher Phil Mafah to the NFL. With Mafah hampered for part of last season due to a shoulder injury, Clemson’s running back depth became a concern. The team is now looking at a group that includes redshirt junior Keith Adams Jr., redshirt sophomore Jay Haynes, redshirt sophomore Jarvis Green, redshirt freshman David Eziomume, and freshman Gideon Davidson.
But at 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, Randall brings a unique combination of size and speed that could make him a real factor in the competition.
Randall first showed glimpses of his potential as a running back in December, when he unexpectedly took carries against the Longhorns. Despite limited practice time at the position, he led the team in rushing yards, finishing with 44 yards on four carries—including a 41-yard burst in the second quarter.
Following the game, head coach Dabo Swinney revealed that Randall had started practicing at running back after Clemson’s ACC Championship victory over SMU. The coaching staff saw enough to consider making it more than just a one-game experiment.
“We talked about maybe trying to transition him there and see if we can kind of rebrand him a little bit,” Swinney said in his postgame interview. “Let’s see what he looks like as a 230-pound back that can fly and got ball skills. He did some good stuff, and that’s something that we want to try to grow this spring.”
Now, with spring practice underway, Randall is fully embracing the opportunity.
Though Randall has spent the past three seasons at receiver, his physical running style has always been evident. In three years, he’s recorded 48 receptions for 533 yards and two touchdowns, often proving difficult to bring down on short routes. Now, with an entire offseason to develop at running back, he has a chance to refine the skills needed to succeed at the position.
“We were all blown away with how he did in a very short amount of time,” Swinney said on Friday. “I mean really blown away. And if you say, ‘What’s the best thing he does?’ It’s always been run with the ball.”
While Randall’s natural running ability is clear, he still has areas to improve—especially in pass protection and blitz pickup.
“He obviously knows the system, but I think just taking it to another level this spring from a technique, fundamental pass protection, and blitz pickup—that’s something he just needs a lot more reps at,” Swinney added. “But running with the ball, he's got natural vision. It's not a challenge for him. You saw that in the playoff game.”
Randall’s experience as a receiver could also make him a dangerous weapon in the passing game. His ability to run a complete route tree gives the Tigers added flexibility in their offensive scheme.
“He's not just a running back that you put out there and say run a hitch,” Swinney explained. “He can run and execute the entire route tree at a high level.”
Randall’s time at Clemson has been defined by perseverance. A former four-star recruit out of Myrtle Beach High School, he has battled injuries throughout his career but remained a key figure in the program. He was recently honored with The P.A.T. (Point After Touchdown) Award for January, which recognizes leadership, ethics, and community involvement. He also won the same award in February 2023 and earned his Business Management degree in just three years.
Swinney sees Randall’s maturity and leadership as major assets—traits that could help him thrive in this new role.
“He's a very mature kid,” Swinney said of the graduate, who returned a kickoff 41 yards to set up freshman Nolan Hauser's 56-yard field goal to win the ACC Championship. “He's a great leader. And [the] kid loves Clemson, and I'm excited for him to get the opportunity to go prove that he could do it. If it goes the way we hope, he's going to be a problem.”