Adam Randall has always looked the part. Now, Clemson may have finally figured out how to use him.
At 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds with 4.4-second speed, Randall has officially made the transition from wide receiver to running back — and it’s turning heads across the country. Once seen as a gifted but underutilized pass-catcher, Randall has transformed into one of the most talked-about breakout candidates in college football. And if his body type and straight-line speed remind you of someone… well, you’re not alone.
Derrick Henry comparisons are starting to swirl.
Randall, a former four-star recruit out of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was part of a loaded 2022 receiver class. He picked Clemson over 22 other offers, including Georgia, LSU, Oregon and Florida State. It was a major recruiting win for Dabo Swinney — but for three seasons, Randall struggled to find his fit.
Injuries, crowded depth charts and offensive inconsistencies limited him to just 48 catches for 533 yards and two touchdowns over three years. Despite being a physical mismatch on the perimeter, Randall was buried on the receiver depth chart and rarely got the reps his athleticism warranted.
Then came December, Clemson was banged up in the backfield. Veteran running back Phil Mafah was battling through a lingering shoulder injury, and the Tigers had been leaning heavily on Jay Haynes — especially in the return game. But when Haynes suffered a torn ACL during the ACC Championship Game, Clemson was suddenly short on options.
That’s when the coaching staff turned to Adam Randall.
The idea of moving the former wide receiver into the backfield had been discussed before, but Haynes injury forced the plan into action. With the game tied late against SMU, and the clock winding down, Dabo Swinney made the call: let Randall return the kickoff instead of taking a touchback.
He delivered — breaking off a 45-yard return that gave Clemson a surge of momentum and set up a 56-yard game-winning field goal. It was the spark the Tigers needed. And it was the moment that changed everything for Adam Randall.
One month later, in the CFP, Randall broke off a 41-yard run against Texas. The switch was initially out of necessity, but it has since become permanent. Randall isn’t just a backup plan. He might be the plan.
Let’s stack that up with Derrick Henry.
It’s easy to see why the buzz is growing.
With true freshman Gideon Davidson drawing plenty of hype, there’s still a chance Clemson rotates backs early on. But don’t be surprised if Randall gets the first carry against LSU in Week 1. He’s a senior, a program veteran, and a shining example of patience paying off in the transfer portal era.
He could’ve left. Many thought he might. But he stayed — and now he’s got a chance to rewrite his career. If Clemson has its way, this former receiver-turned-rumbling tailback may be its next superstar. And possibly, college football’s next Derrick Henry.
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