Give Chris Johnson Jr. credit for taking honest feedback from his head coach in stride. After transferring over from SMU, he was confronted by Dabo Swinney about his work ethic. Swinney told him he did not come across as someone serious about playing football. Clemson is Johnson's third ACC team after briefly playing for SMU and Miami. He has taken it upon himself to improve.
Johnson was asked about how he handled Swinney's brutally honest comments from earlier in the offseason, and he didn't hold back with his response.
"I took it on real heavy. It's now or never for me," Johnson said. "I've got two years left, so it was a challenge for me. I felt like that is what I needed to do, so I took it head-on."
Dabo Swinney challenged Chris Johnson Jr. this offseason, saying he didn’t look like someone who was serious about the game.
— Grayson Mann (@gray_mann21) August 11, 2026
He took it to heart, and responded with quite the offseason, one that featured a new 4.2 speed.
“I took it heavy…it’s now or never for me.” pic.twitter.com/LOdtE17kVh
For a player vying for the same lead-back role as Gideon Davidson, this kind of self-awareness out of Johnson could go a long way in making this competition even more compelling. Clemson's ongoing quarterback battle between Christopher Vizzina and Tait Reynolds may be stealing headlines, but Chad Morris' offense is not going to take off without a strong and multi-faceted rushing attack.
In his first three college seasons, Johnson has rushed for only a combined 583 yards on 84 carries. While he has eight career touchdowns to his name, the bulk of his productivity came a year ago at SMU. Although there are carries to be had within the context of the Clemson offense, Swinney and Morris are not going to hand them over to Johnson out of kindness. He must earn them.
Thankfully, he has accepted the harsh criticism from his head coach entirely. This is what he will need to do to achieve all he can before his college career comes to an end. Johnson only has two more years of eligibility left.
Chris Johnson Jr. has the right attitude to challenge Gideon Davidson
It may not have been what Johnson wanted to hear after transferring over to Clemson. He probably wanted a change of scenery after an up-and-down season at SMU. However, what Swinney is challenging him to do may be exactly what Johnson needs.
For Clemson to achieve all it can this year, it will take a total team effort. That may sound cliché, but that is the Tigers' lot in life heading into this campaign. While the roster may have high-end pieces scattered throughout it, the depth is simply not there. With the day and age of the bell-cow back being over, Johnson and Davidson are going to have to lean on each other in the Clemson backfield.
Right now, there may need to be even more honest confrontations among the Clemson players and staff. What transpired last year was not good enough. While Johnson was not part of the 2025 team, many of his teammates were. He needs to come in with a positive attitude and lift them when he cannot lift himself. This is how iron will sharpen iron at Clemson. It must rebuild itself from within.
Even if Johnson does not beat out Davidson for the starting job, so what? Football is a team sport and a game of injuries. Opportunities will present themselves to those who have prepared. Since coming over from SMU, Johnson has had to relearn how to learn. It may be humbling for him, but this is what he has to do for his football career right now. The best part is he knows this to be true.
So, whenever Swinney or Morris do call his number, Johnson is going to be ready to answer the bell.
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