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CBS Sports Analyst Has Serious Questions About This National Title Contender

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Zach Lentz | Last updated Jun 7, 2025 1:23 PM ET

CLEMSON, S.C. — The roar of a Death Valley season opener is just 86 days away, but the echoes of Clemson's last national championship are what truly reverberate around Dabo Swinney's program. Fresh off a 10-win season, an ACC crown, and a College Football Playoff appearance, the Tigers are reloading for another title run in 2025, and the arsenal looks formidable.

You want a franchise quarterback? Cade Klubnik is coming off a staggering 3,639-yard, 36-touchdown season that solidified his place among the nation's elite. Worried about weapons on the outside? Senior Antonio Williams leads a ferocious receiving corps, complemented by the explosive talents of Bryant Wesco and T.J. Moore. On the other side of the ball, a defense anchored by a menacing front four featuring T.J. Parker and Peter Woods is poised to suffocate offenses.

By all accounts, Clemson has the championship pedigree and the star power. Yet, as the Tigers march toward a primetime August 30 showdown with LSU, one glaring question mark looms over an otherwise stacked roster: Who will carry the rock?

The departure of senior running back Phil Mafah, who rumbled for 1,115 yards and eight touchdowns last season, has left a void in the backfield. For the second straight year, Clemson is breaking in a new starting tailback, a challenge that hasn't gone unnoticed by national pundits.

"Find comfort in run game," wrote CBS Sports' Brad Crawford, who pinpointed the issue as the one area the Tigers must address to meet their lofty expectations. "This will be a pass-happy team with Cade Klubnik, but offensive coordinator Garrett Riley needs to be able to breathe easy in short-yardage situations, too."

The task of replacing Mafah's production will fall to a talented but unproven trio. The backfield committee is expected to feature third-year sophomore Jay Haynes, dynamic redshirt freshman David Eziomume, and highly-touted true freshman Gideon Davidson. While the group possesses explosive potential, they lack the extensive experience of their predecessor.

Last season, Mafah was the reliable workhorse, the thunder to Klubnik's lightning. Now, Riley and Swinney must find a new rhythm on the ground to maintain a balanced attack and keep defenses honest. The success of their season may depend on how quickly the next generation of Tiger running backs can get up to speed.

The first test will be a monumental one. The LSU Tigers roll into Memorial Stadium for a clash under the lights, a game that will serve as an immediate referendum on Clemson's ability to answer its biggest question. Can the Tigers find their footing in the run game, or will the backfield prove to be the Achilles' heel of a potential champion? The countdown has begun.