Gideon Davidson
Running Back
5’11, 185 lbs.
Lynchburg, VA
Shades of: Travis Etienne
A four star prospect out of Liberty Christian Academy, Davidson was a dominant athlete throughout his high school career. He amassed over 5000 yards throughout his junior and senior year, adding 80 touchdowns in 28 games. He averaged an incredible 10.6 yards per carry and 180 yards per game, and received the 2023 Maxpreps National Junior of the Year, an award once given out to Trevor Lawrence.
While Travis Etienne is obviously high praise, as a prospect Davidson features an incredibly similar resume. As a recruit Gideon is a significantly more prestigious player, ranked 121st in the nation, compared to 243rd for Etienne. Both are shifty, agile, and intelligent players, but their greatest asset is their straight line speed. Davidson’s 10.69 100 meter dash just outpaces Etienne’s 10.84, albeit he’s carrying slightly less weight. Davidson features a unique ability to stop on a dime, and can reach the second level in a flash. He has that 6th gear when in open space, and a change of direction that leaves defenders falling into accidental ballet routines.
While the running back room is crowded this season, Clemson lacks the workhorse back they saw with Mafa the last two seasons. The Tigers should resort to more of a committee this season, and one could expect Davidson to carve out a role early on in his collegiate career.
Amare Adams
Interior Defensive Lineman
6’4, 285 lbs.
Florence, SC
Shades of: Bryan Bresee, if Michael Oher played defense
As the number 7 recruit in the country, Adams joins a long list of lab-build 5 star defensive lineman to come in during Dabo’s tenure. He finished his high school career with 136 tackles, 23 tackles for loss and 9 sacks throughout his two seasons at South Florence High School. He was a key contributor for his school’s state championship run his senior season. Along with football, Adams starred on his varsity basketball team, and was dominant in the shot put as well.
Standing exactly one inch shorter and 5 pounds lighter, Adams boasts a profile nearly identical to Bresee. Both former 5 star prospects, with a size speed combination that make them look NFL ready at the age of seventeen. The comparison to Oher doesn’t come from the tackles’ contribution during the Panthers Super Bowl run, but from his personna in The Blindside. Adams is simply larger than everyone else on the field, leading to comically dominant reps only seen in movies.
Due to his ability to rely on pure genetic makeup, it’s difficult to properly scout Adams as a player. He never really needed to develop a pass rush repertoire, as he could rely on a simple bull rush for nearly every rep. He does show incredible athleticism for his size, and his 136 tackles on the interior are a testament to his impressive lateral agility. He’s a high IQ player as well, with a good understanding of his role alongside the line. His ability to recognize when to clog his lane and create opportunities for others, and when to fly in like a bat out of hell and disrupt the offense is going to mesh very well with Tom Allen’s defense, likely earning him a spot along Clemson’s line early on this upcoming season.
Marquise Henderson
Athlete
5’10, 170 lbs.
Honea Path, SC
Shades of: Ray-Ray McCloud
Out of Belton-Honea Path High School, Marquise amassed over 6500 yards rushing and 86 touchdowns as a four year starter. Henderson averaged 10.5 yards per carry and 134 yards per game, adding 760 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns throughout his high school career. Ranked 205th nationally, Henderson projects as a potential Power 4 starter, with a ceiling as a contributing NFL gadget player.
While McCloud was a prolific receiver for the Tigers, he was recruited as a running back. Both McCloud and Henderson share a similar “just get him the ball in space” ability, which can often lead to early time on the field. Henderson’s ability on pitches to the outside, end arounds, and screens should allow him to carve out a significant role in a packed running back room his freshman year. His athleticism should allow him to contribute in the slot, and he should be able to compete as the team’s primary kick/punt returner the second he steps onto campus. Overall, Henderson’s versatility should allow him early reps in the 2025 season.
*All recruit rankings are according to 247 sports unless otherwise noted.
