Clemson Builds Excitement for 2025 Season at ACC Media Day

Clemson took the stage on the final day of the ACC Football Kickoff. During that time, the Tigers’ representatives brought a high level of excitement to media days. Dabo Swinney, Cade Klubnik, Peter Woods, TJ Parker, and Antonio Williams represented Clemson in Charlotte, NC, with big smiles throughout the day. They had more confidence in this year’s media days than we’ve seen in the last few years.

It is clear everyone in the program is of the same mindset going into the 2025 season. Woods pointed this out himself on stage during the Tigers’ press conference. He was the last to speak and mentioned how each representative’s answers sounded repetitive. Woods attributed this to the culture of Clemson and each member of the program having the same mindset, beginning with Swinney and trickling down.

The topics of culture and consistency was the theme for the Tigers this year at the conference media days. It is what they plan to use to achieve their goals this season.

Excitement Builds for 2025 Season

Feelings Around the Running Back Room

Clemson’s running back room is the one area on the team most people have more questions about than excitement. Klubnik does not fall into that category of people, though.

ACC Network analyst Eddie Royal said to Klubnik in a live TV interview that he had star players highlighted for the Tigers at every position except running back. Klubnik responded to Royal, “You can’t highlight them all, which is probably what I would do. We’ve got a loaded running back room. It’s exciting. We’ve got so many dudes it’s really hard to pick one right now because there’s a lot of guys who can go play really elite football.” The senior quarterback then went on to mention a few names, like Adam Randall, who switched to the position from wide receiver. He also mentioned true freshman Gideon Davidson, Jay Hanes, who is recovering from injury, and Jarvis Green.

The quarterback’s sentiments, while expected, are similar to what has been reported through the spring. Coaches, players, and reporters close to the program have said the position is filled with talented players. Those players are just inexperienced. As these players gain experience, it will be up to one or two to separate themselves from the pack. It sounds like whoever does that will have the potential to continue the line of great Clemson running backs.

How Clemson Retains Talent

A topic of conversation for Swinney during media day surrounded his ability to retain players in this time of rampant player movement. As he has stated for years, Swinney attributes all of his program’s successes to culture and consistency. This includes wins in games, recruiting, as well as player retention.

When asked about the national championship expectations his team has every season, Swinney said in his answer, “We’re not perfect, but we’re incredibly consistent. That’s because we’re purpose-driven and we’re relationship-driven. I think our program reflects that purpose in everything, every aspect.” Being purpose and relationship-driven is something Swinney has talked about for years. It is something he makes sure his program lives by as well.

Swinney went on to talk about Clemson being top 25 in both football and academics for the last 14 years. He also said the Tigers have the highest graduation rate in the nation. Later on when talking about P.A.W. Journey Swinney called the football program a leadership organization that plays football.  He then went on to say, “If you’re purpose driven, you better have purpose driven results.” This was before reminding the crowd that every player he’s signed since February of 2009 has won a championship.

Swinney sees that achievement as a result of the culture he has created. Being purpose-driven, relationship-driven, and having consistency attracts great players. Continuously living that purpose keeps those players there.

Veteran Leadership

With all of that player retention comes a larger group of veteran leadership. Media members with a chance to talk to the Tigers were curious to know how having those older players has given them a leg up going into the new season. Swinney says, “It’s awesome! It doesn’t come at a discount.” He then said about this group, “Great leaders that truly care about each other, they care about the place, and they have a very clear vision of how they want to finish. Now they’ve got to go do the work.” This point of view is reflected by the players as well.

Klubnik, in his ACC Network interview, said the leadership on the team is really special. He talked about how many of the veteran leaders on the team were there for the 4-4 start to the 2023 season. Klubnik said it was an uncomfortable situation, but it helped drive this group to put in the work to be better. Now that same group has grown up to be in the conversation as a favorite to win the national championship. The same attitude was shared by every player in attendance at media days, too.

Staying Focused

If one thing was made clear by Swinney, Klubnik, Woods, Parker, and Williams, it’s that Clemson is staying laser-focused on its main goal this season. Williams was asked in a one-on-one interview about how to quiet the outside noise, to which he answered, “I mean the same way you don’t listen to the doubt. Our expectations are high, and they never change.”

Even through all the hype of championship expectations and the huge week one matchup against LSU, the Tigers are concentrated. There is no wavering from anyone on what needs to be done. When asked about the chatter from the Tigers out of the Bayou and how to prepare for the physicality they will bring, Woods answered, “Just put your head down and do the work. I mean it’s football. I don’t think there’s an opponent we’re going against that’s not going to try to out-physical us.”

The players aren’t focusing much on the individual accolades either. Parker, in the press conference, was asked about the possibility of being next in the lineage of Clemson defensive linemen who’ve won the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award. He responded, “To be honest with you, I haven’t really put no thought into it.” Parker added that he believes that if he does his job and the team does what they’re supposed to do, those things will handle themselves.

It is evident that everyone within the program has one thing on their mind: getting to the national championship. That collective focus is a key foundation to achieving that goal.