Randall Embracing New Identity in Clemson Backfield, 'I Didn’t Want to Go Anywhere Else'
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Clemson senior Adam Randall is not the same player he was a year ago. That’s not just talk — it’s positional.
After three years at wide receiver, Randall has transitioned to running back, a shift that became official during the spring and is now taking shape during the Tigers’ first fall camp of 2025. The move, borne out of both necessity and self-awareness, is one Randall embraced with open arms and a clear-eyed determination to contribute in any way possible.
"I didn't want to go anywhere else in the country," Randall said Saturday, following the second day of Clemson’s fall practice. “So, when the opportunity presented itself to move positions, I wanted to be here and make an impact.”
A former four-star recruit out of Myrtle Beach High School, Randall’s career in orange has been defined by flashes of promise and frustrating injuries. He opened last season as Clemson’s starting receiver against Georgia, but soon found himself with limited opportunities. While the junior campaign didn’t go as hoped, Randall used the offseason to reset, and a pivotal conversation with head coach Dabo Swinney opened the door to a new chapter.
“When it was said to me, I kind of thought about it and took a pause,” Randall recalled the chat with Swinney before preparations for the first round CFP matchup with Texas. “I realized that what I do best is run with the ball. I think it'll help me out and maximize the opportunities and the attributes that I have.”
Swinney has made no secret of his belief in Randall’s potential in his new role. “I think he will be one of the great college football stories of this year,” he said two weeks ago at Clemson's Media Day.
Those words carry weight, especially for a player who has battled adversity and uncertainty over the past three seasons.
“I really have been thankful for Coach Swinney’s belief,” Randall said. “He believes in this entire team and this entire organization. If he didn’t believe in you, you probably wouldn't be here. I really do appreciate him and his vision — just continuing to have faith in me, even throughout the four years, throughout my injuries and ups and downs.”
Still, Randall knows that belief alone won’t produce results. “So, I'm thankful to have him and just the belief and in everything is great," he stated. "But at the end of the day, I got to go out there and make the plays myself."
The 6-foot-2, 235-pounder certainly has the tools to make it happen. Clocked at 4.45 seconds in the 40-yard dash, Randall brings a rare combination of size and speed that’s drawn comparisons to NFL hybrid backs and power runners. But he’s not trying to be someone else.
“I’m trying to emulate my game after myself,” Randall said. “Just being me and making the most of the opportunities that Coach Swinney and Coach [Garrett] Riley give me.”
That said, Randall has studied film on Deebo Samuel (Washington Commanders), Cordarrelle Patterson (free agent), Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens), and even former NFL MVP Cam Newton.
“Deebo and Cordarrelle Patterson — I watched a lot of film of those guys, a little bit of Derrick Henry,” Randall said. “I watched a little bit of Cam Newton. You know, his stature is kind of helpful in the way that I can run, because we're both tall guys. He would put his body on the line a lot when he ran with the Panthers.”
For Randall, the takeaway from those film sessions wasn’t just style — it was mentality.
“I think watching those guys be selfless and run the ball hard with great passion is the biggest thing I see. That’s what I want to implement with my game.”
However, his selflessness hasn’t gone unnoticed among teammates. Redshirt junior running back Keith Adams Jr. praised Randall for putting the team first by accepting the position switch.
"That just shows a lot [about] how he's committed to this team,” Adams said. “I can give a lot of credit to his parents as well, because a lot of your characteristics come from where you come from. I feel like his parents did a great job raising him and his brother, Austin. He's just always been a great person and just willing to do anything he can for his team."
The Tigers continue fall camp this week in preparation for their season opener on Aug. 30 against LSU, and it’s quite possible that Randall takes the first snaps at running back for Clemson.
