CBS Sports identifies Clemson's run game as what the Tigers must address for 2025 success
CBS Sports identifies Clemson's run game as what the Tigers must address for 2025 success
Clemson enters the 2025 season with expectations as high as ever — and for good reason.
The Tigers return more production than any team in college football, according to ESPN. Dabo Swinney also made rare moves in the transfer portal to strengthen the top of the depth chart and brought in former Indiana head coach Tom Allen to take over the defense.
But despite the talent-laden roster, CBS Sports points to one remaining question: the run game.
With Phil Mafah off to the NFL and Will Shipley gone as well, Clemson's backfield now features a less experienced group. Freshman Gideon Davidson, redshirt freshman David Eziomume, and third-year sophomore Jay Haynes — who is coming off a torn ACL — are expected to carry the load. Davidson enrolled early and impressed this spring, while Haynes averaged 6.9 yards per carry last season before the injury. Eziomume saw time in the Playoff but didn't record a touch.
During the CFP semifinal loss to Texas, with Mafah limited and Haynes out, Adam Randall — a converted wide receiver — broke off a 41-yard run and finished with 44 yards on four carries. Jarvis Green and Keith Adams Jr. also saw light action, but the room enters 2025 unproven.
Even with Cade Klubnik expected to lead one of the more pass-oriented Clemson offenses in recent years, offensive coordinator Garrett Riley will need short-yardage consistency if the Tigers are to contend for a national title.
Clemson kicks off the season on August 30 against LSU (7:30 p.m., ABC), a matchup CBS cautioned LSU to approach with focus amid growing pressure on Brian Kelly and the Tigers to start fast after five straight season-opening losses.
Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Orioles look to keep home win streak going, host the Tigers
Detroit Tigers (43-24, first in the AL Central) vs. Baltimore Orioles (26-38, fifth in the AL East) Baltimore; Tuesday, 6:35 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Tigers: Sawyer Gipson-Long (0-0, 7.36 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, three strikeouts); Orioles: Cade Povich (1-4, 5.11 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 58 strikeouts) Advertisement BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Orioles -120, Tigers +100; over/under is 9 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Baltimore Orioles will try to keep their three-game home win streak intact when they play the Detroit Tigers. Baltimore has a 26-38 record overall and a 12-17 record at home. The Orioles have hit 70 total home runs to rank seventh in the AL. Detroit is 43-24 overall and 20-15 in road games. Tigers hitters are batting a collective .250, which ranks sixth in the AL. The matchup Tuesday is the fourth time these teams match up this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Ryan O'Hearn has eight doubles and nine home runs for the Orioles. Adley Rutschman is 11 for 38 with a double and two home runs over the past 10 games. Advertisement Spencer Torkelson has 15 doubles and 15 home runs for the Tigers. Riley Greene is 11 for 38 with two doubles, a home run and six RBIs over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Orioles: 7-3, .250 batting average, 2.97 ERA, outscored opponents by six runs Tigers: 6-4, .242 batting average, 2.76 ERA, outscored opponents by eight runs INJURIES: Orioles: Ryan Mountcastle: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Cody Poteet: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Cedric Mullins: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Tyler O'Neill: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Grayson Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jordan Westburg: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Gary Sanchez: 10-Day IL (wrist), Albert Suarez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Tyler Wells: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kyle Bradish: 60-Day IL (elbow) Advertisement Tigers: Jason Foley: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alex Cobb: 60-Day IL (hip), Jackson Jobe: 15-Day IL (flexor), Matt Vierling: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Reese Olson: 15-Day IL (finger), Ty Madden: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jose Urquidy: 60-Day IL (elbow), Alex Lange: 60-Day IL (lat) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Orioles look to keep home win streak going, host the Tigers
Detroit Tigers (43-24, first in the AL Central) vs. Baltimore Orioles (26-38, fifth in the AL East) Baltimore; Tuesday, 6:35 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Tigers: Sawyer Gipson-Long (0-0, 7.36 ERA, 1.64 WHIP, three strikeouts); Orioles: Cade Povich (1-4, 5.11 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 58 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Orioles -120, Tigers +100; over/under is 9 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Baltimore Orioles will try to keep their three-game home win streak intact when they play the Detroit Tigers. Baltimore has a 26-38 record overall and a 12-17 record at home. The Orioles have hit 70 total home runs to rank seventh in the AL. Detroit is 43-24 overall and 20-15 in road games. Tigers hitters are batting a collective .250, which ranks sixth in the AL. The matchup Tuesday is the fourth time these teams match up this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Ryan O'Hearn has eight doubles and nine home runs for the Orioles. Adley Rutschman is 11 for 38 with a double and two home runs over the past 10 games. Spencer Torkelson has 15 doubles and 15 home runs for the Tigers. Riley Greene is 11 for 38 with two doubles, a home run and six RBIs over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Orioles: 7-3, .250 batting average, 2.97 ERA, outscored opponents by six runs Tigers: 6-4, .242 batting average, 2.76 ERA, outscored opponents by eight runs INJURIES: Orioles: Ryan Mountcastle: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Cody Poteet: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Cedric Mullins: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Tyler O'Neill: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Grayson Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jordan Westburg: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Gary Sanchez: 10-Day IL (wrist), Albert Suarez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Tyler Wells: 60-Day IL (elbow), Kyle Bradish: 60-Day IL (elbow) Tigers: Jason Foley: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Alex Cobb: 60-Day IL (hip), Jackson Jobe: 15-Day IL (flexor), Matt Vierling: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Reese Olson: 15-Day IL (finger), Ty Madden: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jose Urquidy: 60-Day IL (elbow), Alex Lange: 60-Day IL (lat) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tigers Predicted to Trade For Two-Time Blue Jays All-Star After Kerry Carpenter News
Tigers Predicted to Trade For Two-Time Blue Jays All-Star After Kerry Carpenter News originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The 2025 Tigers are playing the best baseball that has come out of Detroit since the early 2010s, and doing so with a lineup of mostly role players emboldened by last year's Cinderella run to the ALDS. Advertisement Reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal has been electric for the third straight year, and has thrown 16 straight scoreless innings over his last two starts that included a May 25 "Maddux" against the same Guardians that ended his 2024 season. The main point of need for MLB's best team is help at the back of the bullpen, but ESPN insider Jeff Passan linked Detroit to a very interesting AL East trade candidate in his June 3 deadline preview. Passan wrote that he believes the "best fit" for the Tigers is two-time Blue Jays All-Star shortstop Bo Bichette, who is set to become a free agent after this season. Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (11).Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images Bichette, along with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., were heavily rumored to become available last year as the Blue Jays fell to a last-place finish in the AL East. Advertisement Guerrero Jr signed a 14-year, $500 million extension to keep him a Blue Jay for most, if not all, of his career, but Bichette is still waiting on a lucrative deal from Toronto. If that doesn't happen, and the Blue Jays look to move on from their shortstop with infield prospects Josh Kasevich and Arjuan Nimmala a couple of years away from the majors, they could look to trade him instead of letting him walk for nothing. Passan wrote that Bichette, who hit seven home runs and slugged above .500 in the month of May, brings the kind of pop that current shortstop Trey Sweeney doesn't have. "Bichette's gap-to-gap power would play well at Comerica Park and lengthen a lineup that has scored more runs than anticipated," Passan wrote. Advertisement Passan's suggestion comes a day after outfielder Kerry Carpenter became the first Tigers player to hit three home runs in a game since fringe Hall-of-Famer Victor Martinez in 2016. The 27-year-old Bichette would add another all-around bat next to Carpenter in Detroit's already dangerous lineup as they jockey for postseason position into the summer. Related: Rangers Predicted to Trade Surprise Pitcher After Loss to Blue Jays Related: Yankees Must Trade For $81 Million All-Star After Luke Weaver Injury This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
