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Phil Mafah 2025 NFL Draft Profile

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Grant Potter | Last updated Apr 11, 2025 2:07 PM ET

Phil Mafah was a productive power back for Clemson throughout his college career, and his scouting report evaluates if he will be able to have similar success in the NFL.

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2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report and Film Analysis of Clemson Running Back Phil Mafah

Measurables:

Height- 6’1″

Weight- 234 lbs

Player Background:

Mafah attended Grayson High School in Georgia, where he was a four-star recruit and the eleventh-ranked running back in the 2021 recruiting class. As a freshman, he ran for 292 yards and three touchdowns in nine games. He continued to increase his production in 2022, appearing in 14 games with over 500 yards on the ground. In 2023, Mafah and Will Shipley formed a strong running back committee, with Mafah leading the duo in rushing yards with 965 yards. Mafah became the workhorse running back for the Tigers his senior season and earned Third Team All-ACC honors for his 1,115 rushing yard season. Mafah was a William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist.

Strengths:

Mafah is a tough and physical downhill runner who has great size and play strength. At 6-foot-1, 234 pounds, and with a sturdy frame, Mafah is a true power running back who is a consistently effective between-the-tackles runner in short-yardage situations and a strong option on the goal line. He is a competitive runner who stays strong throughout the entire game.

Mafah is a fundamentally sound running back with decent vision, patience, and footwork. He was an efficient runner in college who averaged over five yards per carry during his career and had back-to-back seasons with over 1,000 yards from scrimmage. In the passing game, Mafah has reliable hands and brought in over 20 receptions in his last two seasons. He also holds up well in pass protection.

Weaknesses:

Mafah is not a high-level athlete. He has decent straight-line speed but is not a breakaway home run play threat, and he lacks lateral agility and change of direction speed. Mafah doesn’t make many big plays in open spaces. He lacks wiggle and the ability to consistently make defenders miss.

In the passing game, Mafah does have reliable hands and is a strong, willing blocker. However, he is not a big play threat down the field as a receiver and is mostly a reliable checkdown option, and has some inconsistencies with his technique in pass protection. Mafah dealt with a shoulder injury throughout the 2024 season that required surgery.

Potential Team Fits:

Chicago Bears

Las Vegas Raiders

Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL Projection:

Mafah is a powerful runner with good size and experience at the college level. However, he doesn’t truly excel at anything outside of being a powerful back. He is an underwhelming runner in open space who lacks great change of direction speed and is unable to consistently create yards on his own. Mafah can be a strong short-yardage and goal-line running back in the NFL who is efficient at picking up yards on well-blocked plays and picks up extra yards as a stronger finisher and pile mover. Mafah has the potential to be a quality RB2 or RB3 in a running back committee in the NFL.