Clemson position grades heading into 2026, running backs have juice
· Yahoo Sports
Next up for our grades for the upcoming season are the Tigers running backs. This is. Talented group with a high ceiling.Running Back
Room: Gideon Davidson, Chris Johnson II, David Eziomume, Jay Haynes
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Grade: B+
About a year ago, Clemson's RB room was considered the offense's weak point. They were moving a receiver struggling to get on the field in his first three seasons, and pairing him with a highly touted but unproven freshman to make up for a backfield void in experience. Twelve months later, Adam Randall is an NFL running back, and Gideon Davidson is one of the more exciting returnees on this team. A lot can happen in a year.
As he was learning the offense, Davidson had a tough time seeing the field early in his freshman campaign, but still managed to rack up 260 yards on 60 carries. While at SMU, Johnson saw seven more carries and over 200 more yards rushing to average 6.7 YPC. While both saw limited time on the field, both films seriously stand out as exceptional.
Eziomume did his job when his number was called, and Jay Haynes was seen as the heir to Phil Mafa in 2024 before suffering a serious injury that sidelined him for the entire 2025 season. This room has a reliable star back at the helm, a strong committee behind it, and quality depth to last a full season for Clemson.
Anonymous ACC coaches talk Clemson, Tigers not highly regarded in 2026
— Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) May 21, 2026
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Paired with an incredible receiving core, Clemson's skill players look elite heading into the season.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson’s running back room elite? Grading Tigers ahead of 2026 season