Signee analysis: 4-star RB Phil Mafah

Brandon Rink - Assoc. Editor / Staff Writer - Wednesday, December 16 2020

Phil Mafah - Running Back
TigerNet: (4.44)

Height: 6-1 Weight: 215 Hometown: Loganville, GA (Grayson HS) Class: 2021

ESPN:

#293 Overall, #13 RB, #28 GA

Rivals:

#150 Overall, #8 RB, #13 GA

24/7:

# 178 Overall, # 9 RB, # 16 GA

Clemson signed highly-productive Peach State running back Phil Mafah.

More on Mafah...

Phil Mafah - 4-star RB - Loganville, Ga.

Committed since: 8/29/19.

Listed size: 6-1 215.

Early enrollee

Brings to Clemson: Mafah shined in a national TV showcase before a leg injury cut short his senior season after 10 games. He has the combination of size and speed that will make him a problem for defenses at the college level. Clemson’s first 2021 commit, Mafah averaged 113 rushing yards per game with 18 touchdowns rushing as a senior and added two receiving scores and 18.8 yards per reception there.

Depth chart fit: We wrote this time last year about the running back picture and how Travis Etienne was likely NFL-bound, but now it seems like that’s going to happen after the record-setting back further displayed his versatility and also added a Clemson degree. Mafah is coming in with another talented back in 5-star Will Shipley and enters a Clemson running back room probably lacking a clear heir apparent to Etienne at the top of the depth chart.

Tony Elliott on Mafah: "What you love about Phil is he's got a great combination of speed...you see his athleticism, he's able to make somebody miss and has sneaky speed. He's a guy who very rarely gets caught from behind. You're talking about a young man who can run between the tackles at 220-plus pounds and also has enough speed to take it the distance...He's just a complete back. Does it all. Has great vision...Ability to catch the ball out of hte backfield. Great acceleration."

Clemson bio

Overview: Unanimous top 300 player nationally … ranked No. 178 by 247Sports, which also listed him as the 11th-best running back in the nation and 16th-best player in Georgia … ranked No. 148 by Rivals.com, which ranked him as the eighth-best running back in the nation and twelvth-best player in Georgia … ESPN300 member who was listed as a four-star prospect by all services … in three years at Grayson High, rushed for 2,526 yards on 288 carries, an 8.8-yard average, and scored 37 total touchdowns … had 10 100-yard rushing games in 29 career games … also recorded 20 career receptions for 224 yards and four scores … rushed for 1,130 yards on 130 attempts (8.7 per rush) in 2020, scoring 18 touchdowns and notching five 100-yard rushing games … team currently sits at 12-0 in 2020 and is ranked second in the state by MaxPreps … had career-high 222 rushing yards on 16 carries against McEachern, a 13.9-yard average, with two scores … followed that with games of 23 rushes for 175 yards, 19 for 142 yards and 20 for 146 yards … had 676 yards and a 10-yard average in 2019, missing four games with a broken collarbone … recorded 720 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2018 … committed to Clemson on Aug. 29, 2019 as the Tigers first commit of the 2021 recruiting class … recruited by Mickey Conn and Tony Elliott … plans to enroll at Clemson in January 2021 … played for Adam Carter at Grayson High School … . attended same high school as several former Clemson players, including current New York Giants running back Wayne Gallman … born Oct. 24, 2002.