Latest news with #GideonDavidson
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
USA TODAY Sports' re-rank of all 136 FBS college football teams has Clemson near No. 1
The Clemson Tigers sure look poised for a big year ahead in 2025. While kickoff for the 2025 college football season is still over three months away, the hype and buzz around the Clemson program has been building for months. Advertisement The Tigers' spring game did nothing to dampen those spirits, with transfer receiver Tristan Smith, running back Gideon Davidson and transfer linebacker Jeremiah Alexander all having impressive showings in the annual Orange and White Game. Smith caught five passes for 137 yards, the highlight being a 73-yard touchdown against cornerback Corian Gipson. Davidson rushed for 31 yards and went for 43 yards receiving out of the backfield. Alexander notched seven tackles (four solo). With quarterback Cade Klubnik taking a gargantuan step forward in 2024 (3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns) and showing off the tools that made him a 5-star recruit out of Austin, Texas, plus a defensive line that returns projected top NFL draft picks T.J. Parker and Peter Woods from a team that won 10 games and the ACC title, Clemson has the talent to make a deep run in the College Football Playoff. On Monday, USA TODAY Sports' Paul Myerberg re-ranked all 136 teams that will compete at the FBS level in 2025 following the conclusion of spring practices across the country. Clemson was ranked No. 2 behind the Texas Longhorns and first-year starting quarterback Arch Manning. Advertisement Dabo Swinney's team ranked ahead of Penn State at No. 3, the Georgia Bulldogs at No. 4, and Notre Dame at No. 5. Clemson's season-opening opponent, the LSU Tigers, were ranked No. 6. Behind Clemson, the highest ACC team in Myerberg's re-rank were the Miami Hurricanes at No. 9. Jeff Brohm's Louisville Cardinals cracked the top 25 at No. 16. Further down Myerberg's rankings, Florida State was at No. 50 after the Seminoles' ugly 2-10 campaign last season, and South Carolina placed just outside the top 25 at No. 27. Earlier this spring, Myerberg said of Clemson: "Klubnik and the defending ACC champions will be expected to repeat in 2025 and go deeper into the playoff. The offense could have issues at RB after projected starter Jay Haynes tore his ACL in the ACC title game, though freshmen David Eziomume and Gideon Davidson looked good in the spring. Defensively, expect Clemson to rebound under new coordinator Tom Allen after falling to ninth in the ACC in yards allowed per play this past season. The pieces are in place for a run at the national title." Clemson hosts LSU and Garrett Nussmeier in a battle of early Heisman Trophy favorites Aug. 30 at Memorial Stadium. Advertisement Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions. This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson football just misses top spot in expert's post-spring rankings
USA Today
20-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
CBS Sports predicts freshman running back Gideon Davidson as the Tigers' 2025 MVP
CBS Sports predicts freshman running back Gideon Davidson as the Tigers' 2025 MVP Clemson's 2025 MVP pick from a national outlet might catch some fans off guard. CBS Sports recently named a Most Valuable Player for each team in its way-too-early Top 25 rankings, and instead of going with a big name like quarterback Cade Klubnik—a Heisman hopeful heading into the season—they chose a newcomer: true freshman running back Gideon Davidson. 'This is a real out-of-the-box pick,' CBS Sports' Will Backus wrote. 'But the path is wide open for Davidson to start for a national title contender as a true freshman. Not only that; there's a real chance that Davidson becomes a bell cow for the Tigers. Phil Mafah is gone, Jay Haynes is working his way back from a torn ACL and likely won't be able to practice until closer to the season, and Keith Adams Jr. has 43 carries in three years of football. If Davidson can take advantage of his opportunities in the spring and fall, he'll fill arguably the biggest need on an otherwise solid and experienced roster.' Davidson made his Clemson debut early by enrolling in January, and he didn't waste any time turning heads during spring workouts. He earned high praise from teammates and coaches alike—including Klubnik, who went so far as to compare him to Clemson legend Travis Etienne. Like Etienne, Davidson also sports the No. 9 jersey. A consensus four-star recruit, Davidson wrapped up his high school career at Liberty Christian Academy (Va.) with over 2,000 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns in 2024, helping his team to a second straight state title. He was named Gatorade Player of the Year in Virginia as well as MaxPreps' top player in the state. Over his final two seasons, he totaled more than 5,000 rushing yards and 80 touchdowns. With Clemson's backfield in transition—following the departure of Mafah and injury recovery for Haynes—Davidson is in position to take on a major role in 2025. The Tigers, who finished 10-4 last season and returned to the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2020, come into the new year ranked No. 8 in CBS Sports' early rankings. They'll open the season against LSU on August 30 at Memorial Stadium. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
