Revamped Clemson Offense: Air Raid, Phil Mafah Emerging, Playoff Aspirations
With a new Clemson offense this season, fans could potentially see many new things in Death Valley. After the hiring of new offensive coordinator Garrett Riley in January this year, a shift to his known Air Raid offense will change the way the Tigers try to score points this season in an effort to boost recent offensive struggles.
With Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik and his receiving corps being the main focuses of fans and coaches this season, the running back room looks to continue to be an unsung hero on the offensive side. Despite Will Shipley being the starter on the depth chart, an X-factor on this team will likely be fellow junior Phil Mafah. Despite rumors of the running back transferring this season, Mafah decided to stay, and his extended role this season will be a vital help for head coach Dabo Swinney and the Tigers making a run for the College Football Playoff this season.
How does Mafah fit into the offense this fall?
When looking at last season, Phil Mafah was the back who was focused more on the ground compared to Shipley. The rising junior ran for 515 yards and four touchdowns for the Tigers across 14 games last season, starting in one game. On the receiving side of the ball, the running back who was featured more was Will Shipley. Mafah only had nine receptions for 48 yards, while Shipley had 38 catches for 242 receiving yards.
With that being said, expect Phil Mafah to continue to be the downhill running back that the Tigers recruited him for. With his 6-foot-1, 230-pound frame, the junior has the ability to break tackles with his large frame and push for yards to move the chains. Despite this big frame for a running back, the Loganville, Georgia native has the explosiveness to make huge plays for Clemson on offense. As soon as he breaks into open space, it is hard to bring him down, and he has a great ability to make defenders miss. Clemson fans saw it this spring when Mafah was able to make a huge play for his team in the spring game, making something out of nothing for a 19-yard rush.
Despite Shipley being ahead of Mafah on the depth chart, I expect Mafah to have a bigger role in the ground game this season. With Garrett Riley’s new-look offense, it could allow Shipley to make more athletic plays either as a running back or a receiving back, which could allow Mafah to get more touches when the All-ACC running back needs a break. What remains a constant, I believe, is Mafah being able to be explosive in the backfield. With a worn-down defense late in a drive, I expect Mafah’s number to be called and he will be able to make many defenders miss and help the Tigers get points on the board at the end of drives. Likewise, I would not be surprised if Mafah’s receiving numbers increase from last season, mostly because of the quick throws and screen passes that come with Riley’s scheme.
No matter how he fits into the offense this season, the former four-star recruit has the potential to do whatever he wants, whether scoring touchdowns or creating huge plays to move the chains. Since he decided to stay a Tiger for his upcoming junior year, he will make up a dynamic duo with himself and his fellow junior (and roommate) Will Shipley yet again to give Clemson success in the run game on a reloaded offense.
