Heading into the 2025 season, one big question about the Clemson football team that people presumably have – at least, those outside the program – is the running back position.

Specifically, what will the running back room look like this season, with the departure of workhorse Phil Mafah and the ACL injury to top backup Jay Haynes in last year’s ACC Championship Game?

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney discussed that topic during an interview on ACC Network’s ACC PM show this week.

Swinney touched on the personnel that the Tigers have at running back, including redshirt freshman David Eziomume, true freshman Gideon Davidson, redshirt sophomore Jarvis Green, redshirt junior Keith Adams Jr. and senior Adam Randall, who has switched to running back following three years as a wide receiver.

“I think, to me, that’s going to be fun. Because on the outside looking in, I think that’s, to me, the most obvious question that people will say, ‘Well who’s their back?’” Swinney said. “Because Shipley’s gone, Mafah’s gone now, who we got? And I think everybody got a chance to see a little bit of glimpse of Jay Haynes last year, but then he tore his ACL, so he’s been out all spring.

“We’ve moved Adam Randall, what’s that look like? And we got this guy David Eziomume that redshirted last year out of Georgia, who was a high-level recruit. We signed a kid named Gideon Davidson, who I think was as good as any back in the country, but nobody knows anything about him. We got a kid named Jarvis Green, who’s a Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of South Carolina, who made a big play, scored a touchdown in the playoff game. So, he’s a young guy. We’ve got Keith Adams, who’s just a sledgehammer. He’s a little bit of a different type of a player at that position, but a very valuable guy in our backfield.”

Swinney has an optimistic outlook for those running backs, who are vying for the lead role. But at the same time, he says it’s a position group with “a lot to prove” this year.

“We’ve got a really good group of guys that I think are going to be competing for the job, and should be a lot of fun. Competition brings out the best in everyone,” Swinney said. “But I think it’s going to be a plus for us when it’s all said and done. I think we’re going to have a really good room, but they got a lot to prove. They got a lot to prove.

“So, if I’m on the outside looking in, you’re going, ‘OK, who are they gonna run out there, who’s gonna turn out and be the most productive guy?’ I’d say that’s to be determined, and I’m excited to see. But from my perspective, from the inside, I’m really excited about what I’ve seen. I like the leadership, I like how they’re working. I like the talent, and let’s spot the ball and see if we can get it going.”

Clemson fans can see the running backs in action this Saturday, as Clemson hosts its annual Orange vs. White Spring Game at Memorial Stadium, which is set to kick off at 1 p.m. The spring game will not be televised, but admission is free.