If you want to know why Clemson only scored 16 points in its latest Power Four home loss, look no further than Dabo Swinney, CJ Spiller, and the rest of the Tigers coaching staff, who effectively pulled their best offensive player from the game in the second half. Running back Gideon Davidson only had five of his 14 touches on the day, coming after halftime, including four in the first series out of the half.
"It's not what he's coached to do," Swinney said on sitting Davidson in the second half of the Virginia Tech loss for making a few technical errors. "He's a great young player, and he's still growing. He's our best ... But he's a little feast or famine right now." Davidson may have given up two sacks and made a few bad reads when it came to his rushing lanes. However, Davidson has been the Clemson offense.
This comes in the extended wake of Swinney pulling backup running back Chris Johnson Jr. from the North Carolina game for similar reasons. It is just all about control at this point for Swinney, is it not? He is not the one calling the plays that do not work. That would be Chad Morris. Because of the latest boneheaded decision made by Swinney's staff, Clemson ripped defeat away from the jaws of victory.
Dabo on Davidson: "He's a great young player and he's still growing. He's our best. ... But he's a little feast or famine right now." Says RBs coach CJ Spiller was "really frustrated" with Davidson in second half, leading them to sit him for a few series (not a full benching) https://t.co/aKl3AUa9ka
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) October 27, 2026
Clemson pulling Gideon Davidson could have serious ripple effects
Last Saturday should have been an opportunity for Davidson to prove himself right that he made the right decision to come to Clemson. The Lynchburg, VA native could have stayed in-state to play for Virginia Tech, Virginia, or even his hometown Liberty Flames. While he did have 14 carries for 62 yards, just imagine what he and Clemson could have done with just six more carries. It is unbelievable.
Davidson may be a talented young player, but he also has to look out for his best interests. He was a blue-chip prospect that so many programs wanted out of high school. While he chose Clemson, we do live in the transfer portal world. To be pulled from a game by a coaching staff that has increasingly shown it does not know what it is doing, it would not be shocking to see Davidson enter the portal.
This does not mean it is okay to be uncoachable. However, the Tigers program has completely hit the skids since he enrolled at Clemson. While he is flourishing whenever he is out there on the field, this "feast or famine" nature that Swinney and his staff are harping on about is merely hogwash. Clemson had a great opportunity to improve to 5-2 (3-1) on the year, but totally blew it in a gotta-have-it game.
Furthermore, if this is the way Clemson treats its best recruits coming out of high school, how is that going to land on the recruiting trail moving forward? Clemson does not recruit the same way out of high school as it once did. Look no further than the meager state of the Clemson offense. Right now, it may have only been an isolated incident, but Swinney just cut off his nose to spite his face big time.
This was the first game where Davidson had at least 13 carries and Clemson still found a way to lose.
Add us as a preferred source on Google