Clemson lands top-5 RB amid hiring surge

• Blake Baumgartner, ESPN Personnel WriterJun 14, 2023, 11:44 AM ET

Four-star running back Gideon Davidson ended up being the very first member of Clemson’s 2025 recruiting class Wednesday.Davidson, No. 51 in the 2025 ESPN 300, is the cycle’s fifth-ranked running back and would be the first ESPN 300 running back to sign with the program given that Will Shipley (No. 22 total, No. 2 RB )in 2021. “Coach [

Dabo] Swinney and [running backs] coach [C.J.] Spiller, they’re just excellent men,”Davidson informed ESPN.” They’re good Christian men and I just delight in being around them and they see something in me, so I really appreciate that and I’m simply delighted to be among their players.”Editor’s Picks 2 Related Davidson’s choice continues a nice

run for Swinney

and the Tigers on the recruiting front. A pair of top-25 potential customers in the 2024 class– linebacker Sammy Brown(No. 17 overall in 2024 )and wide receiver Bryant Wesco (No. 23)– promised recently. Clemson’s 2024 class is ranked 15th by ESPN.Clemson finished fifth in the ACC in rushing( 177.9) last season and was

paced by Shipley’s 1,182 yards and 15 goals. The Tigers return their 2 leading running backs– Shipley and Phil Mafah– from last season, and the program completed in the leading 15 nationally in hurrying as recently as 2019 (13th with 240.4 YPG). The 6-foot, 195-pound Davidson, who hurried for 1,392 yards and 23 goals as a sophomore for Liberty Christian Academy(Virginia), believes his shiftiness will complement what the Tigers wish to do.”I think I fit in quite well with their run scheme, “he stated.”I think Garrett Riley, the brand-new offensive coordinator, has a great tactical plan. … I think jump cuts and making people miss out on are probably among my strongest capability.” Swinney extended a deal June 1 to Davidson, who went to the campus April 1 as part of a Junior Day occasion and after that returned for the spring game in mid-April. The compelling environment at Death Valley throughout the spring game and the strong bond he has actually formed with Swinney and Spiller used Davidson the clarity to understand now was the correct time to position his faith in the Tigers.”There was a great deal of individuals there for a spring game, so that shows the support by the crowd and the fans. … I have actually remained in this procedure for a while and I simply feel like it’s excellent to get it over with due to the fact that it can get stressing at times,” he said.” However I’m all set to commit to one school and prepare yourself for them.”