Phil Mafah, Clemson: 2025 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Mafah was a four-star recruit from Grayson High School in Loganville, Ga. in the class of 2021
A torn labrum severely limited Clemson Tigers running back Phil Mafah during his senior season, but the All-ACC performer’s healthy tape suggests he could be a useful contributor in a committee. Mafah projects as a mid-Day 3 selection, but he could easily outperform that position.
Visit my Twitter account @Sam_Teets33 for more opinions on prospects, clips, and the latest football content.
Phil Mafah, RB Clemson: 2025 NFL Draft Profile
Classification: Senior running back from Loganville, Ga.
Background: Mafah was a four-star recruit from Grayson High School in Loganville, Ga. in the class of 2021. He was the No. 188 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 151 for Rivals, and No. 172 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 293rd in the nation with an 81 grade out of 100. Mafah amassed 288 carries for 2,526 yards and 37 total touchdowns in three high school varsity seasons. He caught 20 passes for 224 yards and four touchdowns during that time. As a senior, Mafah carried the ball 130 times for 1,130 yards and 18 touchdowns. Grayson went 14-0 and won a state title behind Mafah’s standout performance. He’s a cousin of Georgia linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. Mafah was born on Oct. 24, 2002.
Injuries & Off-Field: Missed four high school games in 2019 with a broken collarbone, carted off with leg injury vs. Tiff County during 2020 playoff game, required left shoulder surgery after the 2024 season for a torn labrum suffered in Week 2
Awards: 2023 Honorable Mention All-ACC, 2023 Fourth Team All-ACC (Phil Steele), 2023 Gator Bowl MVP, 2024 Third Team All-ACC, 2024 Team Captain
Pros: Eliminated fumbling issues from 2023, plays through pain, thick and powerful frame, drops shoulder to meet defenders in the hole, good contact balance, churns legs through contact, low arm tackles slide off him, drags defenders for extra yards, knows when it’s time to get downhill and take what he can get, vision to find the crease with chaos going on around him, makes quick and decisive decisions, jump cuts from collapsing gap to open lane, nice acceleration, initial burst to get past the defense’s second level, converts power to burst for long runs, tempos runs and patiently waits for hole to open, shimmy shake to break down defenders in the hole, more wiggle than most 230+ lb. running backs, size translates to pass pro when he IDs danger correctly, vision and processing in pass pro sped up from 2023 to 2024
Cons: Not elite in any single area, struggles to make defenders miss in the backfield, contact balance falls short of elite, lacks elite agility and twitch, physical limitations put cap on his creativity as a runner, inconsistent lateral explosiveness for jump cuts and gap exchanges, burst isn’t instantaneous, first few steps lack game-changing juice, limited elusiveness in open field, can’t beat defenders to the corner, lacks home run speed, unable to consistently challenge pursuit angles, caught from behind, inconsistent goal line back despite size, room to be nastier more often, very limited collegiate receiving role, undeveloped route tree, pass pro technique, must be more impactful in pass protection
Overview: Mafah limped to the finish line of his college career, battling through a torn labrum that caused significant pain and required surgery after the year ended. Playing through pain and discomfort is nothing new to Mafah, but those who evaluated his tape based on just his injured games likely missed some key context. The Georgia native sports a thick and powerful frame that he uses to run through defenders in the hole. His size helps him consistently grind out yardage, but he’s not a top shelf bulldozer. He possesses the contact balance to break through arm tackles and churns his legs to drag defenders for extra yards. Mafah tempos his runs while patiently waiting for a hole to open, but he’s really a no-nonsense runner who knows when it’s time to get downhill to avoid being tackled for a loss. His underrated vision guides him to gaps, even when the box is muddy and defenders start to swarm. Mafah makes quick and decisive decisions that minimize negative plays and provide stable production to keep the offense on schedule. He lacks the instant burst and agility to make defenders miss in the backfield. Mafah’s size puts physical limitations on his creativity as a runner, eliminating any twitchiness and capping his lateral explosiveness. He uses jump cuts to escape collapsing run lanes, but this move’s effectiveness comes and goes. Sometimes, he makes some head-turning jump cuts while other instances are adequate at best. Mafah needs a few steps to build up speed before he’s able to generate any burst. Once he fully hits the gas pedal, the senior possesses the initial burst to blow past the defense’s second level. At 230+ lbs., Mafah turns his powerful strides and leg drive into speed, accelerating like a truck rolling downhill. The All-ACC selection isn’t very elusive in the open field, but he’s got more wiggle to him than most backs his size. He breaks down defenders in the hole to create favorable angles. Sometimes, he completely eludes the would-be tackler despite being the size of a modern day MIKE linebacker. Mafah lacks home run speed and often fails to challenge pursuit angles. He’s a hulking figure in a shrinking football landscape but doesn’t always play to his size. He’s not a consistent short-yardage back and doesn’t play with the ferocity to get after defenders. Mafah didn’t play a significant role as a pass catcher in college and won’t see many balls thrown his way in the NFL. He’s still developing in pass protection but showed significant strides in processing speed from 2023 to 2024. The game appeared to slow down for him, making it easier for him to identify and stonewall threats.
Overall, Mafah is a no-nonsense slashing back with the size to grind out tough yardage and enough juice to occasionally pop a big play. Outside of his physical frame, Mafah’s game offers no elite qualities. Instead, he’s a well-rounded runner who should sign multiple contracts to contribute to a committee approach.
Role & Scheme: Rotational RB3 in an inside zone scheme
Round Grade: Late Fifth to Early Sixth Round
Size: 6'0 5/8", 234 lbs. (NFL Combine)
Submitted: 03-22-25