Swinney on One Position Group with ‘A Lot to Prove’

Heading into the 2025 season, one big question about the Clemson football team that people presumably have – at least, those outside the program – is the running back position. Specifically, what will the running back room look like this season, with the departure of workhorse Phil Mafah and the ACL injury to top backup […]

Looking Ahead: 2025 Clemson RB Room

2024 was supposed to be the year of Phil Mafah. For a while, that is exactly how it was playing out, as Mafah went over the century mark six times in the first nine games. However, a shoulder injury severely impacted his production over the final few games as the senior back rushed for more […]

Riley Comments on Mafah’s Workload, Lack of Carries for Backups

Last season while sharing the running back duties with Will Shipley, fans were clamoring to see more of Phil Mafah in the Clemson backfield. However, now that Mafah is the featured back for the Tigers, many are asking why they’ve not seen more of backups like Jay Haynes and Keith Adams Jr. Over the past […]

Swinney: ‘Mo Mafah, Mo Better’

Clemson’s workhorse running back, Phil Mafah, has been just that for the Tigers this season. Mafah has handled a heavy workload in 2024, and over the last two games against Virginia Tech and Louisville, the senior has logged a combined 176 snaps. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney was asked about that snap count and whether […]

Clemson has another Angry Runner

CLEMSON — Running the ball has been a non-issue for the 10th-ranked Clemson Tigers this season. In all facets, the rushing attack has been better, putting up more substantial numbers than last year, including very diverse funding of yards and contributions. Players like quarterback Cade Klubnik, running back Phil Mafah, and backup running back Jay […]

Swinney on One RB behind Mafah: ‘He’s Just Different’

Phil Mafah enters the upcoming season as Clemson’s unquestioned bell cow running back, but behind him, nothing is set in stone right now. The competition at the position behind Mafah is still ongoing and the depth chart has yet to fully be settled, though Keith Adams Jr. came out of the spring as the backup, […]

Competition Behind Phil Mafah ‘Real Close’

CLEMSON- Phil Mafah is without question Clemson’s starting running back, but how the depth chart shakes out behind him has yet to be fully determined. Keith Adams Jr. came out of the spring as the backup, but running backs coach CJ Spiller said the competition entering fall camp is expected to be fierce. Redshirt freshman […]

Several Offensive Players Shine in Clemson Scrimmage

CLEMSON — Clemson held its final scrimmage of the spring Wednesday at Memorial Stadium, and though there was not a winner or a loser in the two-hour scrimmage, there were some playmakers on both sides of the line of scrimmage. Quarterback Cade Klubnik bounced back from a so-so scrimmage prior to spring break to lead […]

‘EZE’ Bringing A Boost to the Clemson RB Stable

CLEMSON – The running back room at Clemson is known for its physicality and not often its speed in the last couple seasons. Enter freshman David Eziomume, who has the speed to boost the unit. Through two weeks of spring practice, Eziomume is drawing praise from his peers. Phil Mafah agreed with head coach Dabo […]

Post-spring inventory: Running back

With Clemson’s spring football season in the books, The Clemson Insider is taking a look at where things stand at each position heading into the summer. After assessing the quarterback position, running back is up next. Note: This is where things stand with Clemson’s personnel for the 2023 season coming out of the spring. With […]