CLEMSON — Players know game when they see it.

It’s a phrase you hear a lot in the sports world.

Coaches know players, too, but in this day and age where coaches have to speak well about every recruit and young player to make sure they do not jump into the transfer portal, it is easy to take what they say about young players, especially true freshman, as a grain of salt.

In other words, you are accepting it at face value.

However, when players start talking about other players, you listen closely.

The guy most Clemson players spoke about during spring practices was freshman running back Gideon Davidson. The Lynchburg, Va., native enrolled at Clemson in January and was able to participate in all 15 of the Tigers’ practices the last six weeks.

“Gideon looks good. He is smooth. His cuts, they are elite,” quarterback Cade Klubnik said.

Coming out of high school, Davidson was one of the highest ranked players in the country, including as the No. 3 running back by ESPN. After his junior season, he won Max Preps’ National Junior Player of the Year, the same award won by former Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

“He’s got it all,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said.

Davidson does appear to have it all. He is fast, has great instincts, great vision and can jump in and out of cuts effortlessly.

“That first step and acceleration, once he gets to the line, it is quick. It is sudden,” Klubnik said.

His sudden change of speed allowed Davidson to run for 7,438 yards and 118 TDs in high school. He also had 606 receiving yards and eight TDs.

In 2024 alone, he ran for 2,054 yards and scored 34 TDs. Davidson averaged 9.2 yards per carry last year.

He rushed for 2,795 yards and averaged 12.9 yards per carry during his junior season.

“I did not play with Travis, but it looks kind of like Travis Etienne,” Klubnik said. “That is not saying a lot coming from me because I did not play with (Etienne), but from what I have seen from (Davidson), it’s cool. He looks really, really good.”

Wide receiver Antonio Williams can see why Clemson signed Davidson.

“His burst and his cuts. He is very confident and natural as a ballcarrier, as most running back are,” Williams said. “But he was signed here for a reason. He was a highly touted guy around the country. I can see why.”

Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley calls Davidson “a natural.”

“I mean, he’s a natural – natural balance, a cutter. He can be a violent runner,” he said. “I think he’s got natural hands and can do things where you’re spreading him out or things in the passing game. I just think he’s a very natural kid.”