CLEMSON – Will Shipley came into the 2023 season as the star in the running back room, but things may be shifting for the Clemson Tigers. Through five games this season, Phil Mafah is proving that he deserves more reps and who’s ahead of him shouldn’t limit that.
This isn’t just a ‘watch the tape’ thing. It’s the numbers that tell the story, and it’s not particularly close. Let’s start with the obvious for you all to compare. We’ll be specifically focusing on the ground game, and briefly talk about pass blocking.
Will Shipley
-72 carries
-353 yards
-4.9 yards per carry
-14 10+ yard runs
Phil Mafah
-43 carries
-278 yards
-6.5 yards per carry
-7 10+ yard runs
It’s expected of the second back to bring the juice, but Mafah is doing more than that. Yes, there’s been some crucial mistakes but it’s not just the latter that’s had turnovers. Mafah’s been the more efficient back given the sample size, but analytics really separate the two.
According to PFF’s metrics, Mafah leads Clemson with an 80.6 rushing grade while Shipley is third on the team with a 75.6. Domonique Thomas is second, but he has an extremely small sample size with 11 carries. The full offensive grade really stands out with Mafah at 78.0 compared to 69.0. That analytic includes the receiving and blocking qualites of the game.
Shipley’s pass block grade is a 33.9, less than half of Mafah’s 72.1. Keep in mind that’s accounting for Mafah’s missed assignment that led to Florida State’s scoop six over a week ago.
Both running backs are bruisers, and their ability after contact is crucial to success. PFF has Mafah averaging 3.98 yards after contact compared to Shipley’s 3.03, almost a whole yard difference. Neither are home-run threats, but Mafah even wins in that category.
Mafah has 59 more yards on 15+ yard runs while holding half of Shipley’s 10+ yard carries. In short, Mafah’s the one to break loose for long gains and we saw it on his 32-yard game-sealer against Syracuse. That’s also good for a 64.1 breakaway percentage, and he’s proving to be the closest thing Clemson has to a game-changer in the run game.
Shipley and Mafah are both very good running backs. Not taking away from that fact, but feeding Shipley more touches might not be in the Tigers’ best interest. This is coming from someone who was banging the table for Shipley to be fed the rock early in the season.
It’s a storyline many Clemson fans are becoming aware of, it’s just a matter of if we’ll see a change in the offense. Mafah deserves more opportunity to see if this is just a matter of fresh legs or something more.