“Confidence, Confidence, Confidence”: Freshman RB Gideon Davidson Earning Trust
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Dabo Swinney didn’t hesitate when he was asked what’s changed for freshman running back Gideon Davidson. He said it three times in a row: “Confidence, confidence, just confidence.”
It’s the kind of answer that tells you a young player has finally caught up to the speed of college football. Swinney went on to explain that the game is slowing down for Davidson — that he’s understanding protections, finding the right timing on screens, and starting to see the whole picture of what Clemson asks from its running backs.
That’s the jump from talent to trust.
The trust part matters because Davidson arrived with plenty of talent. The Lynchburg, Virginia native was MaxPreps’ 2023 National Junior of the Year, an award once won by another Tiger — Trevor Lawrence — back in 2016. Recruiting services had him pegged as one of the most complete backs in the country: On3 ranked him the No. 90 player nationally, the No. 2 running back, and the No. 2 player in Virginia.
Now, in November, the hype is finally starting to give way to production.
“He’s got really natural vision,” Swinney said. “He’s a powerful kid. He can get low to the ground. He’s got really good balance and really explosive lower-body power.”
| Player | CAR | YDS | AVG | LNG | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Randall | 116 | 570 | 4.9 | 39 | 6 |
| Gideon Davidson | 37 | 149 | 4.0 | 17 | 0 |
| Keith Adams Jr. | 11 | 67 | 6.1 | 12 | 1 |
| David Eziomume | 10 | 37 | 3.7 | 19 | 0 |
| Team RB Totals | 174 | 823 | 4.7 | 39 | 7 |
When a coach describes a freshman like that, it usually means the player has turned the corner from practice player to real contributor.
The change wasn’t just Davidson’s growth; it was also a shift in how Clemson manages its rotation. Swinney said the staff stopped assigning entire series to specific backs and instead started slotting Davidson into plays where he could succeed.
“Garrett just really committed to, ‘Hey, this is how we’re going to make sure we’re going to rotate it,’” Swinney said. “We committed to the plays, not as much series.” That slight adjustment meant Davidson didn’t have to wait for a “next series” that might never come. Instead, he got guaranteed touches — and with them, rhythm and confidence.
His recent snaps have shown why the staff made that change. Davidson’s power through contact has been noticeable, but so has his poise.
His screen timing, his ability to anchor in pass protection, and the way he finishes runs are all traits that have started to help him emerge.
Davidson’s presence has helped steady the offense by allowing for starter Adam Randall to get some much-needed rest. When Davidson is on the field, Clemson can stay ahead of the chains, which is crucial against a team like Louisville that thrives on dictating tempo and forcing opponents into mistakes.
Swinney also made sure to note that the running back room is deep. Randall, a former wideout who has adapted to the position this year, remains steady. The hope is that David Eziomume, who is still viewed as a key part of Clemson’s future, will also take on more opportunities.
“Just not enough snaps,” Swinney said about Eziomume’s lighter workload. “I think he’s a great player and going to have a lot of great days ahead.”
That’s what makes Davidson’s emergence even more meaningful. He’s earning time in a room that isn’t devoid of talent.
For Swinney, the “confidence” line wasn’t just about attitude. It was about the little things: seeing protection right, hitting the timing of a screen, trusting your keys instead of hurrying your eyes. Those are the habits that separate rotation guys from starters, and Davidson has started to live in that space.
On Friday night in Louisville, that maturity will matter. Clemson needs a back who can block a blitzing linebacker, time a screen perfectly, and squeeze an extra yard out of a run that looks bottled up. That’s the difference between third-and-seven and third-and-three, and that’s often the difference between winning and losing.
If you’ve watched Davidson lately, you can see what Swinney means. He runs like a player who’s stopped thinking and started reacting. His balance, his vision, the way he finishes through contact — it’s all there now. For a freshman in November, that’s usually the sign of a player who’s not just learning how to play, but learning how to win.
