Two Tigers Accept Invites to College All-Star Game
By: Robert MacRae December 30, 2024

A couple of Clemson stars will have the chance to shine in the Lone Star State next month.

Clemson running back Phil Mafah and safety R.J. Mickens have accepted their invitations to the East-West Shrine Bowl, which will be played on Jan. 30, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas — home of the Dallas Cowboys.

Televised nationally during primetime on NFL Network, the East-West Shrine Bowl is the longest-running college all-star football game in the nation and gives top college players a chance to showcase their talents to NFL scouts and a national television audience.

Mafah earned third-team All-ACC honors as a graduate senior this season, when he rushed 216 times for 1,115 yards with eight touchdowns and caught 21 passes for 103 yards over 14 games (all starts).

The 6-foot-1, 230-pounder was hampered all year by a preseason shoulder injury but still recorded the 24th 1,000-yard rushing season in Clemson history, and his 1,115 yards ranked 14th in a season in school history. He posted 981 rushing yards and eight touchdowns over the Tigers’ first nine games of the season.

For his career from 2021-24, Mafah had 561 rushing attempts for 2,887 yards and 28 touchdowns, as well as 58 receptions for 309 yards across 50 games (21 starts). He finished his career ranked ninth in Clemson history in career rushing yards (2,887) and tied for 10th in career rushing touchdowns (28).

Mickens, meanwhile, finished third on the team in 2024 with a career-high 85 tackles (including a career-high 6.0 for loss) and added seven pass breakups with two interceptions over 13 games (all starts).

An NFL legacy, Mickens recorded 229 tackles (13.5 for loss), seven interceptions, 15 pass breakups and a fumble recovery in 60 games (30 starts) from 2020-24.

The 6-foot, 210-pound super senior became the 10th player in Clemson history to play 60 career games, joining James Skalski, Will Spiers, Will Swinney, B.T. Potter, Nolan Turner, Justin Mascoll, Xavier Thomas, Jalyn Phillips and Will Putnam.

The 100th East-West Shrine Bowl will kick off on Thursday, January 30, at 8 p.m. ET on NFL Network.