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As Clemson turns the page to the 2025 season, the spotlight burns brightly on C.J. Spiller and the Tigers' running backs room. With Phil Mafah off to the NFL and a new wave of talent arriving, it feels like a critical juncture not just for the players—but for the coach leading them.
“I feel like the running back room at Clemson has underperformed under Spiller’s guidance,” Lawton Swann noted on Clemson Sports Talk, airing weekdays from 4–6 p.m. on Fox Sports Radio 1400. “It feels like it’s the money year for Spiller… almost a make-or-break type vibe in my opinion.”
Spiller, a Ring of Honor Member and one of the most beloved players in school history, took over as running backs coach in 2021—just as Travis Etienne, the ACC’s all-time leading rusher, departed. In his first year, the Tigers leaned on true freshman Will Shipley (739 yards, 11 touchdowns) and Kobe Pace (641 yards, six touchdowns), while Mafah began developing in the shadows.
The breakout came in 2022, when Shipley rushed for 1,182 yards and 15 touchdowns. Yet, that remains the high-water mark of Spiller’s tenure. In 2023, Shipley and Mafah split carries, and last season, with Shipley gone, Mafah handled the lion’s share with 1,115 yards and eight scores.
But Swann argues it’s not about the raw numbers.
“It’s more so the lack of impactful plays—game-breaking runs. Things you saw with Etienne haven’t materialized under C.J. Spiller,” he said. “And it may have more to do with the players than the coach… but that’s what makes this season so significant.”
The 2025 backfield picture is crowded but full of uncertainty. Sophomore Jay Haynes—who showed flashes before a knee injury in the ACC Championship—should return. Redshirt freshmen David Eziomume and Jarvis Green have potential but minimal game experience. Keith Adams Jr. is a physical runner but not likely to provide the explosive plays Clemson sorely lacks.
One wild card? Adam Randall, a converted wide receiver who turned heads at times during the late stages of the 2024 season.
“I think where Randall gives you a unique piece is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield,” Swann noted. “He might be the best receiving running back Clemson’s had in years—maybe ever.”
And then there’s the most intriguing name in the group: Gideon Davidson. The freshman phenom from Virginia, who rushed for over 2,000 yards and 34 touchdowns as a senior, may already be in position to push for the top spot on the depth chart.
“There’s a belief you’re going to have to trust in a freshman to maybe be the guy,” Swann said. “If that guy doesn’t emerge, what does that mean for C.J. Spiller?”
It’s a fair question. Clemson is known for being selective in its recruiting offers, which amplifies the need for accurate talent evaluation. And as Swann pointed out, “If Gideon Davidson doesn’t pop off the page—at what point do you believe maybe C.J. is just continuing to miss?”
No one is calling for Spiller’s job. If anything, Swann believes a different kind of transition could come: “Spiller wouldn’t be fired. He’d be promoted—maybe asked to take on an ambassador role in the program.”
But for now, the task is clear. Develop a lead back. Reignite Clemson’s run game. Prove this era of Tiger backs can move past the long shadow of Travis Etienne.
Because this season? It’s feeling like the money year.
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