College or NFL? Clemson running back Phil Mafah makes his decision
Phil Mafah is running it back.
Clemson football’s leading rusher will be returning for his 2024 senior season instead of entering the NFL Draft, a team spokesperson confirmed to The State on Tuesday. That decision situates Mafah as the undisputed No. 1 running back for the Tigers after fellow running back Will Shipley declared for the draft Jan. 3.
Monday was the hard deadline for college football underclassmen to “petition for special eligibility” for the 2024 NFL Draft, per the league, which is a routine first step juniors take in their draft declaration process. The team spokesperson confirmed Mafah did not submit any paperwork to declare for the draft by that deadline.
Mafah led the Tigers in rushing yards (965) and rushing touchdowns (13) this season and is coming off a monster Gator Bowl in which he ran 11 times for 71 yards and a Clemson bowl record four touchdowns in a Dec. 29 win over Kentucky.
Mafah was widely assumed to be returning for 2024 but told The State ahead of the Gator Bowl that he still hadn’t made a decision on his Clemson future amid a breakout season and would figure that out after the year ended.
The former four-star recruit from Georgia set career highs across the board in 2023 and emerged as the team’s starter down the stretch ahead of fellow junior Shipley (827 yards, five rushing touchdowns).
Mafah’s confirmed return is a huge boost for Clemson’s offense, as the bruising runner was among the ACC’s leaders in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns and will likely garner preseason all-conference honors heading into 2024.
Mafah joins senior linebacker Barrett Carter and fifth-year safety R.J. Mickens as top players who are returning to Clemson next season after considering the NFL Draft.
The Tigers ended up having three underclassmen declare for the NFL Draft: linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr., cornerback Nate Wiggins and Shipley.
This story was originally published January 16, 2024 at 12:50 PM.
