Update on Phil Mafah’s future with Clemson football team
Phil Mafah is still pondering his future.
Clemson’s starting running back told The State on Wednesday that he still hasn’t decided whether he’ll return for his senior season in 2024 or declare for the NFL Draft. He will focus on that decision after the Gator Bowl, he said.
“I’m really waiting for after this game to really decide,” Mafah said after a practice at Fernandina Beach High School outside Jacksonville. “I’m just trying to focus on the rest of this (season), finish this season out strong. Just really focused on Kentucky and finishing it off.”
Mafah, a draft-eligible junior, leads the team in carries (168), rushing yards (894) and rushing touchdowns (nine) this season and emerged as Clemson’s starter down the stretch ahead of junior Will Shipley (798 yards, five touchdowns).
All of those statistics are career highs for Mafah, a former four-star 2021 recruit from Georgia who’s improved his numbers each season at Clemson.
The junior said he has no specific date in mind for making a decision after Friday’s Gator Bowl and said that process will involve consulting with coach Dabo Swinney.
“Honestly, I haven’t thought too much about it,” Mafah said. “Just gonna talk more about it with Coach Swinney after the season and my parents and just see what the best choice for me is, but it’s not necessarily a strict timeline.”
Shipley, Mafah’s roommate and backfield mate, is still yet to publicly announce a decision on his future. Shipley said earlier this month he’d play in the Dec. 29 Gator Bowl vs. Kentucky before announcing whether he’d return for 2024 or enter the NFL Draft. Shipley has explicitly ruled out transferring to another school, though.
Mafah said he and Shipley have spoken with each other about their respective decisions but Shipley’s decision won’t have any affect on his decision, or vice versa.
“We’ve just talked about where the Lord is leading us, honestly,” Mafah said. “That (Shipley’s decision) is nothing to do with whether I’m gonna stay or me being back. It’s just where our hearts are and, when we pray, seeing where our hearts go and what should be best.”
2023 Gator Bowl game, TV info
Who: No. 22 Clemson (8-4, 4-4 ACC) vs. Kentucky (7-5, 3-5 SEC)
When: noon Friday
Where: EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla.
TV: ESPN
Stream: Via ESPN or the ESPN app
Line: Clemson by 4.5
This story was originally published December 27, 2023 at 6:11 PM.
