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
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Tigers meet the Orioles with 1-0 series lead
Detroit Tigers (44-24, first in the AL Central) vs. Baltimore Orioles (26-39, fifth in the AL East) Baltimore; Wednesday, 6:35 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Tigers: Casey Mize (6-1, 2.91 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 48 strikeouts); Orioles: Zach Eflin (5-2, 4.47 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 31 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Orioles -111, Tigers -108; over/under is 9 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Detroit Tigers lead 1-0 in a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles. Baltimore has gone 12-18 in home games and 26-39 overall. The Orioles have a 16-8 record in games when they out-hit their opponents. Detroit has a 44-24 record overall and a 21-15 record on the road. Tigers hitters have a collective .322 on-base percentage, the fourth-ranked percentage in the AL. The teams match up Wednesday for the fifth time this season. The Tigers lead the season series 4-0. TOP PERFORMERS: Ryan O'Hearn has eight doubles and nine home runs for the Orioles. Jackson Holliday is 9 for 39 with three doubles, two home runs and three RBIs over the past 10 games. Riley Greene leads the Tigers with a .280 batting average, and has 15 doubles, 13 home runs, 19 walks and 44 RBIs. Wenceel Perez is 11 for 34 with two home runs and four RBIs over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Orioles: 7-3, .237 batting average, 2.86 ERA, outscored opponents by six runs Tigers: 6-4, .246 batting average, 2.55 ERA, outscored opponents by eight runs INJURIES: Orioles: Jorge Mateo: 10-Day IL (elbow), Ryan Mountcastle: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Cody Poteet: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Tyler O'Neill: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Grayson Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), 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
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Tigers meet the Orioles with 1-0 series lead
Detroit Tigers (44-24, first in the AL Central) vs. Baltimore Orioles (26-39, fifth in the AL East) Baltimore; Wednesday, 6:35 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Tigers: Casey Mize (6-1, 2.91 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 48 strikeouts); Orioles: Zach Eflin (5-2, 4.47 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 31 strikeouts) Advertisement BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Orioles -111, Tigers -108; over/under is 9 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Detroit Tigers lead 1-0 in a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles. Baltimore has gone 12-18 in home games and 26-39 overall. The Orioles have a 16-8 record in games when they out-hit their opponents. Detroit has a 44-24 record overall and a 21-15 record on the road. Tigers hitters have a collective .322 on-base percentage, the fourth-ranked percentage in the AL. The teams match up Wednesday for the fifth time this season. The Tigers lead the season series 4-0. TOP PERFORMERS: Ryan O'Hearn has eight doubles and nine home runs for the Orioles. Jackson Holliday is 9 for 39 with three doubles, two home runs and three RBIs over the past 10 games. Advertisement Riley Greene leads the Tigers with a .280 batting average, and has 15 doubles, 13 home runs, 19 walks and 44 RBIs. Wenceel Perez is 11 for 34 with two home runs and four RBIs over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Orioles: 7-3, .237 batting average, 2.86 ERA, outscored opponents by six runs Tigers: 6-4, .246 batting average, 2.55 ERA, outscored opponents by eight runs INJURIES: Orioles: Jorge Mateo: 10-Day IL (elbow), Ryan Mountcastle: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Cody Poteet: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Tyler O'Neill: 10-Day IL (shoulder), Grayson Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), 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.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
SMU's Rhett Lashlee Admits the College Football Playoff Made an Error
SMU's Rhett Lashlee Admits the College Football Playoff Made an Error originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The SMU Mustangs made the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff after losing a closely-contested ACC championship against Clemson. However, there was one team Mustangs coach Rhett Lashlee says should've gotten in. Advertisement SMU clinched the last spot over Alabama in the playoff, resulting in weeks of debate across college football. Many wondered if more teams meant a more problematic outcome for the Playoff Committee. Lashlee feels SMU and Alabama should've both been included in the postseason. But if that's the case, who gets left behind? 'Well, I felt like we deserved to be in but after we came up short 12 hours before in that ACC championship game with Clemson," Lashlee said in an interview with The Next Round. "I cannot say I felt great with the way it was shaping up to be either us or Alabama, which I'm not sure that's the way it should've shaped up. I think maybe we both should've been in.' Advertisement SMU ended the regular season with a top ten ranking at 11-1. Their only loss was to BYU in non-conference play. But the loss to Clemson was followed by a 38-10 Playoff defeat to Penn State in Happy Valley. Related: SMU Football Faces Backlash After Team GPA Under Rhett Lashlee Surfaces As for Alabama, they will have another chance to prove themselves as a worthy postseason contender in 2025. At 9-3, the late-season loss to Oklahoma killed off any chance of sneaking into the playoff. Under Kalen DeBoer, the Crimson Tide had three wins against ranked opponents, including No. 2 Georgia. Related: Explosive Edge Rusher Hudson Woods Commits to SMU Football SMU hopes to repeat the magic of last year in a wide open ACC. The game to watch will be a title game rematch at Clemson on Oct. 18. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
