The New York Giants are fairly well set at running back as they enter the 2026 off-season. However, we don’t know how the draft will play out, nor precisely what new head coach John Harbaugh is looking for in his roster.
Harbaugh had great success with premier power back Derek Henry, and he could look to add a player with those traits to the Giants roster. In that case, 6-foot-2, 235-pound Clemson running back Adam Randall could be very high on the Giants’ radar as the draft process gets under way.
Randall also fits Joe Schoen’s preference for getting value for backs later in the draft as well as Tyrone Tracy’s path as a receiver turned running back. He’s getting very little national buzz early in the process, but Randall’s name certaily bears watching for the Giants.
Prospect: Adam Randall (8)
Games Watched: vs. LSU (2025), vs. Troy (2025), vs. Georgia Tech (2025), vs. Syracuse (2025)
Red Flags: none
Measurables
Height: 6-foot-2 (unofficial)
Weight: 235 pounds (unofficial)
Strengths
Best traits
- Size
- Quickness and agility
- Vision
- Pass catching
- Competitive toughness
- Long speed
Clemson’s Adam Randall is a big, athletic, and powerful wide receiver-turned-running back. Standing 6-foot-2, 235 pounds, Randall has evident mass, but carries it extremely well. He’s bigger than most defensive backs and some off-ball linebackers who would be tasked with stopping him at the second level, and he understands how to use the advantage.
Randall is capable of executing both man-gap power runs and zone runs thanks to his blend of size, athleticism, and vision. He flashes the ability to be an effective inside runner and is a real handful for defenses on the perimeter.
Randall is a recent convert to the running back position, but already showcases natural vision and instincts as a runner. He’s patient behind the line of scrimmage, understands how to set up and follow his blockers, and is also able to track and anticipate defenders at the second level. He has very good vision and quickly identifies cutback lanes, as well as clear paths to the open field.
He’s remarkably quick and agile for a big back, with a very effective jump-cut to make tacklers miss in a phonebooth before attacking cutback lanes. Likewise, he has good speed in the open field once he’s able to lengthen his stride and had several long runs in the tape viewed.
Randall’s background as a receiver makes him a natural, and dangerous, pass catcher out of the backfield. He’s a good and savvy route runner who executes the running back route tree well. He easily finds the open field or voids within coverage in the underneath area. Randall is also a natural catcher of the ball who locates, tracks, and makes good adjustments to present a clear target for his quarterback. He routinely extends to make full use of his sizeable catch radius and is a natural “hands” catcher.
Weaknesses
Worst traits
- Height
- Experience at the position
- Pass protection
There are a few weaknesses holding Randall back from being a (potentially) dominant running back, at least at this point in his development.
First and foremost, Randall is simply very new to the running back position, having just transitioned from wide receiver for the 2025 season. He has a solid understanding of blocking schemes and a natural feel behind the line of scrimmage, but still needs to get better at running behind his pads and exploding through the hole. He doesn’t quite play up to his size, but that seems to have more to do with experience than anything else. Randall needs to get better at squaring his shoulders and accelerating sooner in his runs to maximize his play strength.
Likewise, his pass protection is something of an unknown at this point. He has “linebacker” size, doesn’t shy away from contact, and has all the tools to be a good pass protector. He just needs further development in this area.
Finally, and this is a problem for most taller backs, Randall is vulnerable to hits around his legs. He has a naturally high center of gravity, and can be brought down relatively easily around the line of scrimmage before he builds up a head of steam.
Game Tape
(Adam Randall is the Clemson running back wearing number 8)
Projection
Adam Randall is raw as a running back, and only has limited tape at the position. That may depress his draft stock, but it could also serve to make him a hidden gem and a steal for the team that eventually takes him.
Randall has great size, very good vision, and the athleticism to make full use of that vision. Likewise, he has enough speed to break long runs once he’s able to find the open field. Additionally, his background as a wide receiver makes him a very dangerous weapon out of the backfield. Randall is simply too big – and his contact balance is too good – for off-ball linebackers and defensive backs to bring him down easily.
He obviously still needs development, but Randall has real upside for the team that invests in him.
Does he fit the Giants? Potentially yes
Final Word: A good value early on Day 3
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