CLEMSON – It took almost the entire 2023  season, but the Clemson Tigers finally figured out their run game.

What was an endless tug-of-war between starting running backs Will Shipley or Phil Mafah is now Clemson’s biggest strength: using both.

The Tigers struggled mightily during the season to figure out the run game at all, but the gates finally opened against Notre Dame. Shipley was out that game with a concussion, but Mafah caught fire on the heels of the best day for the Clemson offensive line to date.

He finished with 36 carries for 186 yards and two touchdowns and it became the catalyst for a three-game string of rushing success. Shipley returned to the fold and it was like a new player on the field.

Pairing Mafah and Shipley together seamlessly was always the best option, and the former detailed what’s like to make it all click.

“It’s very meaningful. Having both of us be able to play is a huge help to our offense. I feel like we can both be used in many different ways and feed off each other’s energy and just support each other throughout the game still. It’s very useful and I’m very appreciative to that,” Mafah said.

Over the last two games, Shipley has 29 carries for 203 yards and two touchdowns. He’s also added 83 yards through the air. During the North Carolina game, he had an early fumble but Mafah and the team stayed with him and he ended up delivering his best performance of the year.

“I could tell that he was definitely frustrated with the play and talked to him. We all talked to him and he knew that we needed him to win this game. He was going to be a huge contributor to us  winning that game,” Mafah said.

While this may be a short marriage of the Clemson running back room, the Tigers galvanized it into three-straight wins and potentially more.

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