One Group has a Chance to Go From Good to Great for Clemson This Year.
When things aren't working well on a team, but one group is executing their job - even at a bare minimum level - it can become easy to view that group through a much rosier lens. Because things around them have been bad, we view them as performing better than they are. Hello, Clemson running backs.
Now, before anyone takes this as a slight at the group, don't. Ask any of those backs if they felt like they've played at the best of their abilities and you'll get a resounding "No". For the past two seasons, Clemson's running backs have been good, not great, in a floundering offense. Is it all their fault? No. Can they be much, much better? Absolutely.
CJ Spiller, a College Football Hall of Fame member, took over as Clemson's running backs coach in 2021. (Clemson Athletics)
Will Shipley came to Clemson as one of the top running backs in America. He's been a bright spot offensively since arriving, often saving games for the Tigers, but how has he compared to other backs from his class? TreVeyon Henderson has averaged 6.7 yards per touch and scored 26 times in just 21 games at Ohio State. Donovan Edwards averaged a whopping 7.1 yards per carry and rushed for 991 yards while sharing carries with Blake Corrum at Michigan in 2022. Shipley has found the endzone 26 times in 24 games at Clemson and is averaging a respectable 5.5 yards per touch, but there's a ton of room for improvement.
Now, Shipley has had the unenviable task of covering a lot of holes on an inefficient offense, while Henderson and Edwards are parts of well-oiled units. During D.J. Uiagalelei's tough patches and the transition to freshman Cade Klubnik, Will Shipley was Clemson's security blanket. Phil Mafah stepped up as well in 2022, but again, averaged just 5.3 yards per touch.
Those numbers are going to have to improve if this new Garrett Riley offense is to succeed. It's not fair to compare players to the all-time leader in a conference, but that's what Shipley and Mafah are trying to replace. Yes, Trevor Lawrence was the driving force in Clemson's offense for three seasons, but Travis Etienne was its backbone. During his historic career at Clemson, Etienne averaged 7.8 yards per touch. He was basically an automatic first down every time he touched the ball. Clemson has been missing that since he left for the NFL.
There are reasons to be hopeful about Shipley and Mafah. Clemson brings back a ton of depth on the offensive line, but more importantly, Garrett Riley is taking over as coordinator. With Cade Klubnik entering his first season as the starting quarterback, Riley will rely heavily on his two junior backs. While at TCU in 2022, Riley's top two backs, Kendre Miller and Emari Demercado averaged 6.2 and 5.6 yards per carry respectively. No disrespect to Miller and Demercado, but they aren't the players Shipley and Mafah are.
Clemson is hoping for a revival in 2023. Yes, they won the ACC this past season, but ending up outside of the College Football Playoff conversation for two consecutive seasons is a tough pill to swallow for a team that's used to being among the final four. If they are going to get back to their former glory, their going to need their running back room to come through in a big way.
