ESPN names this Clemson freshman as Tigers' top newcomer for 2025 college football season
ESPN names this Clemson freshman as Tigers' top newcomer for 2025 college football season
Most of the offseason talk and hype around Clemson football's 2025 roster has centered on the number of familiar faces and returning starters the Tigers will feature on both sides of the ball.
Clemson has elite talent, to be sure, and it's that talent that has Dabo Swinney's team ranked No. 2 in a few different post-spring top 25 rankings. Senior quarterback Cade Klubnik is back, as are a group of receivers headlined by junior Antonio Williams and sophomores Bryant Wesco and T.J. Moore.
On defense, the Tigers boast stud defensive linemen T.J. Parker and Peter Woods, while Avieon Terrell mans the secondary at cornerback. Klubnik, Parker, Woods and Terrell have all been named to early 2025 NFL mock drafts as first-round talent.
But as is the case for every team, the Tigers will have a few new faces, too. Phil Mafah and Jake Briningstool are off to the NFL, opening up opportunities at running back and tight end. It's the running back position where ESPN thinks Clemson's top newcomer will emerge in 2025.
On Friday, college football analyst Billy Tucker named the top newcomer for every team in ESPN's post-spring Top 25 rankings. Four-star running back Gideon Davidson (Liberty Christian Academy, Va.) was named Clemson's best incoming player for the 2025 season.
Tucker said of Davidson:
"The third-best running back in the 2025 ESPN 300, Davidson is a great example of how enrolling early can help springboard a freshman toward an immediate impact. Early signs are that he resembles Travis Etienne with his quick read and cut ability and could step in immediately to help replace 1,100-yard rusher Phil Mafah. Davidson was Virginia's 2024 Gatorade Player of the Year and tallied more than 8,000 yards from scrimmage as a high schooler. His youth shouldn't hold him back given Clemson's otherwise inexperienced running back room."
Tucker added:
"Davidson isn't as big as Mafah, but he's faster and will add a more explosive cutback element on zone runs. His great vision and speed should fit nicely into Clemson's schemes. Clemson could utilize him quickly as a change-of-pace, all-purpose back if he's not the featured back by the time the season opens. Clemson's experienced passing game is the perfect antidote to take some pressure off the freshman."
Clemson opens the 2025 season against LSU at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 30.
Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
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