Note: The following appears in the App State football gameday program.
Dec. 29, 2023. The Gator Bowl. Following a game that had already seen four fourth-quarter lead changes, things were starting to look bleak for the Tigers. Despite having overcome an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter, a touchdown by Kentucky with 2:39 left in the game saw the Tigers down once again.
With 44 seconds left to play and trailing by five, the Tigers faced a third and 18 at midfield. A clutch pass by Cade Klubnik to the far sideline was hauled in by Antonio Williams. Nonetheless, they were still short of the line to gain by two yards.
Having no other option but to go for it on fourth down, the Tigers knew their best chance was to go with the man who had been doing it all game. Receiving the snap, Klubnik handed the ball off to #7, running back Phil Mafah. Finding a hole in the offensive line, Mafah powered through to pick up the first down. Three plays later, Mafah found the endzone with 17 seconds left on the clock, recording his school-record-tying fourth touchdown of the game and sealing the win for the Tigers.
Reflecting on his time at Clemson, Mafah highlighted this bowl game as one of his favorite moments. Although he was named co-MVP of the Gator Bowl and accounted for 24 of the Tigers’ 38 total points, he still credited the entire team for the success.
“It was a highlight of the whole team and wasn’t just my big moment. The game was up and down, but I’m so glad we finished well and came out with the win. The guys all worked hard and we didn’t quit. We came out with what we wanted.”
A Loganville, Ga. native, Mafah was born to Ivorian parents who had moved to the United States before he was born. Initially being introduced to soccer due his west-African heritage, Mafah began playing football in third grade, finding immediate enjoyment and success in the sport.
“Being from west Africa, my parents knew a lot about soccer, so that is what they wanted me to play as a kid. I loved playing soccer. My friends and I used to play in the front yard. However, I decided to start playing football during my third-grade year and never stopped after that.”
Providentially, Mafah’s first football coach happened to be Mickey Conn, the current Tiger co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach. Conn coached Mafah from his first football season as a seven year old through his seventh-grade year. Three years later, Conn would go on to recruit Mafah from Grayson High School, where he became Clemson’s first signee of the 2021 recruiting class.
“I chose Clemson because of the people here. I had a great relationship with Coach Conn back at Grayson, so I knew him really well. It was also the philosophy of Clemson football. I knew it was a winning program. I knew Coach (Dabo) Swinney was a man of faith, and he wanted to grow men to be more than just football players. That was something I wanted to be a part of.”
Although planning to redshirt his freshman season, Mafah was called into action following attrition at the running back position. He played 170 snaps that season, made his first college start and a had career-long 63-yard run against Florida State. Seeing a continual increase in playing time during his second season in 2022, Mafah was looking poised for a breakout campaign.
The 2023 season saw Mafah become a regular option in the offensive backfield, where he recorded a career-high 179 carries, 965 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. He combined with fellow running back Will Shipley to become the seventh Clemson running back duo since 1948 to each surpass 750 rushing yards in a season, and the first pair to do so since 2007.
Following this remarkable season, Mafah surely could have found success had he elected to go pro and enter the NFL draft. However, he declined and returned to Clemson to play one final season, for more reasons than one.
“I wanted to leave my mark here, as this is my last season. Another big thing was graduating. I graduated in May, something I wouldn’t have been able to do if I had left and went to the NFL. Graduating and getting my degree was a really big thing that I wanted to do.”
Known to be on the quieter side, the veteran now looks to lead his teammates by example, which is a leadership philosophy best described as “actions speak louder than words.” He credited former Clemson defensive end K.J. Henry for modeling this style of leadership.
“K.J. had a huge impact on me during my freshman year. He was a great leader, always leading by example and always doing the right things. Because of that, I looked up to him.
“Leading by example looks like doing the extra work to set the standard. Since I’m the first guy running out there, I know that if I don’t do things well, other guys won’t. It also looks like being consistent. If you’re going to be a leader, you have to be consistent training, day in and day out. You have to have that credibility in order to talk to the guys and encourage them to continually be better.”
Also contributing to his leadership qualities is P.A.W. Journey, the Clemson leadership initiative dedicated towards developing and preparing football scholar-athletes to be influential leaders both on and off the field.
“It’s helped me to grow a lot as a man. P.A.W. Journey is one of the biggest reasons I chose to come to Clemson, because it’s a leadership initiative where they take us as players and help us to stand on our own two feet. It helps us by giving us the tools for life and helping us with forming connections with mentors.
“Since I’ve gotten here, I’ve grown a lot in every facet of my life. I give a lot of that credit to P.A.W. Journey because of the people there and how they try to develop us and mature us.”
For 2024, Mafah feels an excitement rooted in the work the team has put in the offseason. As he looks to build on last year, Mafah and the Tigers stand ready to face the challenges that come with being a top program.
“I feel great about this year. We’ve been working hard and we’re ready to stand on the work we’ve done to give it our all this season. With this being the last year, I’m excited to give it all to the guys and be the leader I know I was always meant to be.”
