Dabo Swinney didn’t hide his frustration after Clemson’s Week 3 ACC home win over North Carolina, and Chris Johnson Jr. ended up paying the price.
Johnson, the SMU transfer, got just two carries and finished with no yards as Gideon Davidson took over the spotlight with a breakout day. Davidson piled up 16 carries for 105 yards and scored his first touchdown in a Clemson uniform, giving the Tigers a much-needed spark on the ground. Johnson did contribute on special teams, but his role on offense vanished quickly.
Swinney explained the benching bluntly in Tuesday’s press conference: "He went in and bounced it outside on a play that's supposed to go inside. I just wasn't going to watch it anymore.
I'm trying to win a game," Swinney explained why Johnson was benched in Week 3. "If he wants to play, he's got to do what he's supposed to do.
It's just really that simple. He was impactful in winning the game at kickoff return.
We know what he can do, but he's got to play within the scheme."
That kind of public message can cut both ways. On one hand, Swinney is making it clear that discipline matters. On the other, it puts a transfer running back on blast in front of the media, which is not exactly the kind of scene that makes future portal additions feel comfortable.
Johnson has already bounced around enough, and Clemson is trying to make sure its current roster pieces fit together. Swinney said all of the running backs can help the Tigers win games, but his decision to sit Johnson once the game started getting out of hand was still a striking move.
Johnson wasn’t the only back who saw limited action. Jarvis Green had five carries for 22 yards, with his first-half fumble playing a major role in that workload. Clemson ran the ball 36 times overall, but 27 of those carries went to Davidson or quarterback Tait Reynolds.
Swinney also pointed to the offensive line, saying it needs to block better, a problem that has lingered all season. That reality may have made it easier to single out one back instead of the whole unit, but Clemson still needs more from the position group as a whole.
For now, Davidson is the one back trending up, and Clemson does not appear to have much margin for error in the backfield.
In Other News...
Clemson Heads To Its Next ACC Test With New Health Concerns
Clemson heads into its next ACC road test at California carrying a few more health questions than it would like this early in the week. The initial injury report lists multiple defensive starters as questionable, including nickel Corian Gipson and defensive tackle Devarrick Woods, a concerning note for a unit that has had to keep its depth in order as the season has moved along.
Gipson is still working back from a recent injury that limited his play, while running back Jay Haynes remains questionable as he recovers from an ACL tear. On the brighter side, quarterback Christopher Vizzina is listed as probable after dealing with elbow swelling, giving Clemson at least one key offensive piece a better chance of being available as it prepares for a long trip and another conference challenge. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Faces A Late-Night ACC Test That Could Expose Two Concerns
Clemsons first ACC road trip of the season sends the Tigers all the way to Berkeley on Sept. 25, where a late-night test against Cal will offer a cleaner read on where this team really stands. It is the kind of cross-country conference game that can sharpen a September rsum quickly, especially for a Clemson group still sorting out what travels well and what does not once it leaves home.
The matchup carries real pressure because both sides bring a clear identity into it, with Clemson looking to build on recent positive signs while trying to avoid the kind of defensive lapse that can turn a long trip into a long night. Cal also has enough offensive firepower to make this interesting, so the focus turns to how Clemson handles the road setting, the passing game, and the small errors that can decide a game like this before the fourth quarter even settles in. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Suddenly Has A Friday Night Rotation Concern In Berkeley
Clemsons first injury report ahead of Friday nights trip to California offered the kind of early-week snapshot coaches usually prefer to keep behind closed doors. The list included players who are out or probable, and it put a spotlight on several names that matter to the Tigers depth on both sides of the ball, including defensive tackle Devarrick Woods and running back Jay Haynes. Dabo Swinney also offered updates on the group as Clemson turns the page toward a game that arrives with an unusual time slot and a few lineup questions attached to it.
One of the more notable situations is in the secondary, where nickelback Corian Gipson landed on the report after being limited in practice and briefly leaving the North Carolina game. Clemson also has to sort through the status of Haynes, who was re-evaluated after being on ice, even as the specifics around his situation remain murky. At quarterback, Tait Reynolds is expected to stay in place after his recent showing, but the Tigers still have enough moving parts on the availability front to make this a Friday night worth watching closely in Berkeley. [Read more 🡒]