“He’s just a natural,” offensive coordinator Garrett Riley said. “His balance, his ability to cut, his hands—he does it all, and he does it like he was born to.”

Davidson, one of Clemson’s top early enrollees, hasn’t looked like a freshman through the first ten practices. Whether taking handoffs inside, catching passes in space, or making defenders miss in the open field, he’s consistently flashing. And it’s not just the physical tools—it’s how he carries himself.

“He’s not phased by anything,” Riley said. “There’s just something about his demeanor. He’s confident, he’s calm, and that matters—especially at this level.”

Riley’s praise isn’t handed out easily, but he’s seen enough already to believe Davidson could play a major role in 2024. The Tigers have depth to sort through in the backfield, but Davidson’s ability to make explosive plays and his maturity beyond his years may fast-track his rise.

“He had some elevated practice reps late last season, and we saw then that he wasn’t going to blink,” Riley said. “Now we want to see him take that next leap—decision-making, consistency, understanding the full picture.”

That development will come with time. But the upside? It’s already crystal clear.

“He’s going to be a big-time player,” Riley said. “No question about it.”