Competition Behind Phil Mafah 'Real Close'

CLEMSON- Phil Mafah is without question Clemson’s starting running back, but how the depth chart shakes out behind him has yet to be fully determined.

Keith Adams Jr. came out of the spring as the backup, but running backs coach CJ Spiller said the competition entering fall camp is expected to be fierce.

Redshirt freshman Jarvis Green now has a year under his belt, and is certainly in the mix, as will be another redshirt freshman, Jay Haynes, if he can stay healthy.

“It’s a real close competition,” Spiller said at Clemson Media Day. “And that was really the challenge for these guys coming into the spring. Who’s going to be that guy behind Mafah? We know what he can do. You wouldn’t want to see him carry the ball forty times but if we have to ask him to do it, we know he can do it. And so that was really my challenge.”

Adams has the most experience of the three, as he is set to enter his redshirt sophomore season. While that gives him a leg up on the other guys, the gap is not insurmountable.

True freshman David Eziomume could be the wildcard. However, running back can be a lot to learn for a first-year player.

“Keith did a awesome job this spring, took a took another step forward,” Spiller added. “Jarvis Green took another step forward. Obviously, we didn’t have Jay Haynes out there for spring. And the freshman came in, David, EZ. He did a great job. I mean, he was pretty much was like a freshman. Just trying to learn it, trying to get the footwork down. But as the spring went on, he got better.”

All five backs will come into the fall fully healthy, including Haynes and over the next few weeks Spiller is looking for at least two of those guys behind Mafah to step up and take some of the pressure off of the senior back.

Heading into camp, Spiller likes where the group is both physically and mentally, noting that each player is fully embracing the competition.

“The good thing, going into the spring that everybody is healthy,” Spiller said. “So it’s going to be a really good, healthy competition in there. And we’ll see how it plays out. Those guys, they respect that. They love that challenge. And that’s the beauty of this game, competition brings out the best of everybody, You either run to the competition or you shy away from the competition. And thank God every guy in that room, they run to the competition, they don’t shy away from it.”

“I’m looking forward to this fall camp, seeing all those guys out there, having the chance to go out and compete for that two or three spot.”

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