Latest news with #PhilMafah
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
CBS Sports Analyst Has Serious Questions About This National Title Contender
CBS Sports Analyst Has Serious Questions About This National Title Contender originally appeared on Athlon Sports. CLEMSON, S.C. — The roar of a Death Valley season opener is just 86 days away, but the echoes of Clemson's last national championship are what truly reverberate around Dabo Swinney's program. Fresh off a 10-win season, an ACC crown, and a College Football Playoff appearance, the Tigers are reloading for another title run in 2025, and the arsenal looks formidable. Advertisement You want a franchise quarterback? Cade Klubnik is coming off a staggering 3,639-yard, 36-touchdown season that solidified his place among the nation's elite. Worried about weapons on the outside? Senior Antonio Williams leads a ferocious receiving corps, complemented by the explosive talents of Bryant Wesco and T.J. Moore. On the other side of the ball, a defense anchored by a menacing front four featuring T.J. Parker and Peter Woods is poised to suffocate offenses. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images By all accounts, Clemson has the championship pedigree and the star power. Yet, as the Tigers march toward a primetime August 30 showdown with LSU, one glaring question mark looms over an otherwise stacked roster: Who will carry the rock? The departure of senior running back Phil Mafah, who rumbled for 1,115 yards and eight touchdowns last season, has left a void in the backfield. For the second straight year, Clemson is breaking in a new starting tailback, a challenge that hasn't gone unnoticed by national pundits. Advertisement "Find comfort in run game," wrote CBS Sports' Brad Crawford, who pinpointed the issue as the one area the Tigers must address to meet their lofty expectations. "This will be a pass-happy team with Cade Klubnik, but offensive coordinator Garrett Riley needs to be able to breathe easy in short-yardage situations, too." The task of replacing Mafah's production will fall to a talented but unproven trio. The backfield committee is expected to feature third-year sophomore Jay Haynes, dynamic redshirt freshman David Eziomume, and highly-touted true freshman Gideon Davidson. While the group possesses explosive potential, they lack the extensive experience of their predecessor. Last season, Mafah was the reliable workhorse, the thunder to Klubnik's lightning. Now, Riley and Swinney must find a new rhythm on the ground to maintain a balanced attack and keep defenses honest. The success of their season may depend on how quickly the next generation of Tiger running backs can get up to speed. The first test will be a monumental one. The LSU Tigers roll into Memorial Stadium for a clash under the lights, a game that will serve as an immediate referendum on Clemson's ability to answer its biggest question. Can the Tigers find their footing in the run game, or will the backfield prove to be the Achilles' heel of a potential champion? The countdown has begun. Clemson's 2025 Gauntlet Aug. 30: vs. LSU (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC) Sept. 6: vs. Troy Sept. 13: at Georgia Tech Sept. 20: vs. Syracuse Oct. 4: at North Carolina Oct. 11: at Boston College Oct. 18: vs. SMU Nov. 1: vs. Duke Nov. 8: vs. Florida State Nov. 14: at Louisville Nov. 22: vs. Furman Nov. 29: at South Carolina This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys Rookie Faces Uphill Battle To Make Roster
The Dallas Cowboys' rookie class will have it all to do in Oxnard to make the final roster for Brian Schottenheimer, but one thing is clear, the Dallas head coach will give everyone equal opportunity. When it comes to the running back room, the Cowboys have an intriguing battle set to take place with rookies Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah, per Schottenheimer, seen as starting-caliber players. Advertisement But for the pair, and especially Mafah, working their way up the depth chart will be a tough assignment with Miles Sanders and Javonte Williams seen as No. 1 and No. 2 if a game were to be played today. And for ESPN, Mafah will have a tough time breaking through. "Mafah is one of the biggest backs in this class at 6-foot-1, 234 pounds," ESPN writes. "He's not particularly fast, and his collegiate efficiency was underwhelming. The Dallas RB situation is seemingly wide open, but Blue, Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders all stand in the way to a sizable role." Clemson RB Phil MafahNathan Ray Seebeck/USA TODAY Sports It is no secret that Mafah has work to do, but he has already received glowing praise from Schottenheimer, and he will need to showcase his talent when he gets the chance in Oxnard. Advertisement With Dallas wanting to be a run-first offense, there will be rushing reps to be had, and Mafah will need to separate himself from the pack. Not quick, but quick enough, plus his ability as a bruising runner and pass-catcher, there is something to work with for the coaching staff. But is it enough to work himself up the depth chart? Time to find out. Related: Dak Prescott 'Not Respected' in Dallas Cowboys Locker Room ESPN Claims Related: Cowboys' Jones Offers Micah Parsons $200 Million Contract Update
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys Issue Bold Prediction on Dine & Dash 2.0 RB Draft Haul
We all remember the "Dine and Dash'' duo of Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard for the Dallas Cowboys, as our own Mike Fisher called it, and now the franchise might be bringing it back. With Zeke the hammer (with the "Feed Me'' spoon) and Pollard the twinkle-toed lightning strike, the pair created a finely balanced tandem behind Dak Prescott, with Elliott "dining'' on power yards before Pollard would "dash" through and create big, explosive plays. Advertisement That has been missing for a couple of seasons, but it could be on the way back with Dallas' draft haul seeing the franchise select Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah. Blue and his 4.38 40-yard dash time sees him as a home-run threat on any given play, and the thought of what Jaydon could do for the offense behind what is now a solidly put together offensive line gives Cowboy Nation hope the run game will be vastly different than a year ago. So that takes care of the lighting (or dash) part of the equation, but what about the dine (the downhill runner)? Mafah has that covered. "I would say a powerful back who likes to make guys miss any way possible," Mafah said on the Draft Show. "Whether it's running through them, jumping over them, duking them out, I just love to play with physicality, and I love to show others that I can also be nimble at the same time." Blue, Mafah And The CowboysBy Tony Fisher With Blue and Mafah coming into a running back room that already consists of Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Deuce Vaughn, and Malik Davis, that is six backs the Cowboys have on the roster. Advertisement Enter a training camp battle for the ages. But don't discount Blue and Mafah being No. 1 and No. 2 on the depth chart come Week 1 after Brian Schottenheimer's comments on the pair's potential being starters. 'I would hope so,'' he said, "or otherwise we wouldn't have drafted them.' That's a pretty bold semi-prediction right there. The Cowboys used the "Dine and Dash'' duo of Elliott and Pollard to good effect a couple of seasons ago, and now the offense might have the second coming of it in Schotty's run-heavy scheme. Blue and Mafah as the new sheriffs in town? Don't discount it, folks. Related: Cowboys Coach Reveals Head-Turning Take On 2-RB Draft Haul Related: Cowboys' McClay Reveals The Why In 'Explosive Playmaker' Jaydon Blue
USA Today
09-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN names this Clemson freshman as Tigers' top newcomer for 2025 college football season
ESPN names this Clemson freshman as Tigers' top newcomer for 2025 college football season Most of the offseason talk and hype around Clemson football's 2025 roster has centered on the number of familiar faces and returning starters the Tigers will feature on both sides of the ball. Clemson has elite talent, to be sure, and it's that talent that has Dabo Swinney's team ranked No. 2 in a few different post-spring top 25 rankings. Senior quarterback Cade Klubnik is back, as are a group of receivers headlined by junior Antonio Williams and sophomores Bryant Wesco and T.J. Moore. On defense, the Tigers boast stud defensive linemen T.J. Parker and Peter Woods, while Avieon Terrell mans the secondary at cornerback. Klubnik, Parker, Woods and Terrell have all been named to early 2025 NFL mock drafts as first-round talent. But as is the case for every team, the Tigers will have a few new faces, too. Phil Mafah and Jake Briningstool are off to the NFL, opening up opportunities at running back and tight end. It's the running back position where ESPN thinks Clemson's top newcomer will emerge in 2025. On Friday, college football analyst Billy Tucker named the top newcomer for every team in ESPN's post-spring Top 25 rankings. Four-star running back Gideon Davidson (Liberty Christian Academy, Va.) was named Clemson's best incoming player for the 2025 season. Tucker said of Davidson: "The third-best running back in the 2025 ESPN 300, Davidson is a great example of how enrolling early can help springboard a freshman toward an immediate impact. Early signs are that he resembles Travis Etienne with his quick read and cut ability and could step in immediately to help replace 1,100-yard rusher Phil Mafah. Davidson was Virginia's 2024 Gatorade Player of the Year and tallied more than 8,000 yards from scrimmage as a high schooler. His youth shouldn't hold him back given Clemson's otherwise inexperienced running back room." Tucker added: "Davidson isn't as big as Mafah, but he's faster and will add a more explosive cutback element on zone runs. His great vision and speed should fit nicely into Clemson's schemes. Clemson could utilize him quickly as a change-of-pace, all-purpose back if he's not the featured back by the time the season opens. Clemson's experienced passing game is the perfect antidote to take some pressure off the freshman." Clemson opens the 2025 season against LSU at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 30. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
USA Today
27-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 Shadow Drafts: What would've happened if Cowboys picked WR or DE instead of Booker?
2025 Shadow Drafts: What would've happened if Cowboys picked WR or DE instead of Booker? The Cowboys are getting quality marks for their haul, but would they have been better off going a different direction? Shadow drafts are always a fun exercise. I got the idea several years ago from Locked on Cowboys podcast host Marcus Mosher. The concept is simple; what other options were available to the team you follow instead of how they proceeded with things in reality. For the Dallas Cowboys, that means what if the they made a different decision than drafting Alabama offensive guard Tyler Booker with the No. 12 overall pick? The rules are straight-forward. At each draft slot, the only prospects available are ones who went later in the real-life draft. The team can only use drafted capital that was actually traded in order to move around. So the Cowboys were willing to trade 5.174 and 6.211; those are the only picks that could be used to move around with. When the team bypasses the position it picked in reality, assume the last prospect taken at that position before their next pick is now available. i.e. If the team took WR2 in reality, and WR5 last off the board before the club's next pick, WR5 would still be "on the board" for them. Also, one doesn't have to be married to the order that positions were addressed, but they do need to adhere to the spirit of the agenda. Could there have been a better haul awaiting Dallas if they steered in a different direction, with hindsight being 20/20? Edge Rusher First 1.12 - Edge Jalon Walker, Georgia 2.42 (Trade 2.44, 5.174, 6.211) - DT Alfred Collins, Texas 3.76 - WR Savion Williams, TCU 5.149 - OG Marcus Mbow, Purdue 6.204 - CB Robert Longerbeam, Rutgers 7.217 - RB Brashard Smith, SMU 7.239 - RB Phil Mafah, Clemson 7.247 - DT Zeke Biggers, Georgia Tech Wide Receiver First 1.12 - WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State 2.44 - OG Jonah Savalineaea, Arizona 3.76 - RB Bhayshul Tuten, Virgnia Tech 4.117 (Trade 5.149, 5.174, 6.211) - Edge David Walker, Central Arkansas 6.204 - CB Robert Longerbeam, Rutgers 7.217 - DT Jay Toia, UCLA 7.239 - RB Phil Mafah, Clemson 7.247 - TE Luke Lachey, Iowa Would the Cowboys have been better off with either of these two hauls? Follow Cowboys Wire on Facebook to join in on the conversation with fellow fans!
