Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney made it official on Thursday night: Adam Randall, the former wide receiver turned running back, will be the Tigers’ starter when they take the field against LSU in the season opener.
Speaking on 105.5 The Roar, Swinney praised Randall’s work ethic and natural ability with the ball in his hands.
“We’ve got four guys and we’ll go to battle with them, but it starts with Adam,” Swinney said. “He’s the starter. He’s earned that.”
The Birth of an Idea
Adam Randall’s move to the backfield has been one of the most intriguing storylines of Clemson’s offseason, but as Swinney recently shared on the Gramlich & Mac Lain Podcast, the idea started months ago — on the bus ride home from the ACC Championship Game last December.
Swinney watched Randall shine as a kick returner that night, which sparked a thought that grew stronger with each passing mile.
“On the way back, I’m just like, you know what, I think I’m going to meet with Adam tomorrow and I’m just going to pitch this idea to him,” Swinney said. “Because what he’s always done best is run with the ball. That’s what he’s always done best.”
By the time Clemson’s playoff destination was announced the next day that they would be headed to play Texas, Swinney had already made up his mind to approach Randall.
The Conversation That Changed Everything
The next morning, Swinney talked with Randall for a straightforward conversation.
“I just met with him and I said, ‘Look, what’s the best thing you do as a football player?’” Swinney recalled. “And he said, ‘Run with the ball.’ And I said, ‘Ding, ding, ding. The best thing you do is when you have the ball, you’re a problem to tackle.’”
Swinney laid out a plan: stick it out through the spring, test the position switch, and if it didn’t work, they’d reevaluate.
“I said, ‘So, what would you think about staying through the spring and let’s transition to running back? Let’s rebrand you and then if it’s not you, you can leave in May and I’ll help you. I’ll do everything I can to help you get in the right spot.’”
Adam Randall: From Experiment to Starter
Adam Randall embraced the challenge and spent the spring and summer working in the backfield. What began as a trial quickly turned into a breakout. His combination of size, speed, and natural instincts with the football make him a difficult matchup for defenders.
Now, just months later, he’s not only proven himself at a new position — he’s earned the starting job.
Clemson’s Backfield Picture
Swinney emphasized that while Randall will be the starter, the Tigers’ running back room remains a rotation with talented names such as true freshman Gideon Davidson, redshirt freshman David Eziomume, redshirt junior Keith Adams Jr., and others. With Jay Haynes (ACL injury) still most likely being out for the season opener, Clemson will roll with around four backs against LSU, but Randall has clearly separated himself as the tone-setter that will lead the running backs for the Tigers.
The No.4-ranked Clemson Tigers, who open the season at home against the No. 9-ranked LSU Tigers, will need every ounce of firepower they can muster. For Swinney, naming Randall the starter isn’t just about depth — it’s about putting the ball in the hands of a playmaker.
And for Randall, it’s the chance to prove that sometimes the best moves in college football come not from a game plan, but from a coach trusting his instincts on a long bus ride home like Dabo Swinney did that night in December.
