Clemson loses senior running back Lyn-J Dixon to transfer portal

Clemson running back Lyn-J Dixon has entered the transfer portal.

Despite being a senior and the Tigers’ most experienced back entering this season, Dixon had received limited playing time through Clemson’s first three games and totaled 10 carries for 48 yards.

Freshman Will Shipley and sophomore Kobe Pace have received the bulk of the carries this season. Shipley has 33 carries for 175 yards while Pace has 18 attempts for 88 yards.

Dixon entered the season with 1,372 career rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. He ranked second in school history with a 6.60 average per carry, trailing only former teammate Travis Etienne.

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Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and offensive coordinator Tony Elliott both recently said that Dixon had been in the "doghouse" with first-year running backs coach C.J. Spiller.

After the S.C. State game, Swinney said that Dixon “just needs to grow up. It’s just that simple. He needs to be a team player.”

Swinney said Monday night that Dixon’s departure could impact a plan to redshirt freshman running back Phil Mafah.

“It could change it,” Swinney said. “We’re settling in with Kobe and Shipley for sure. Hopefully it’ll give some more opportunity to (Michel) Dukes and man, we’ve got a lot of confidence in (Darien) Rencher because we know he’s gonna give everything he’s got and do it right and he’s productive.

"But we’ll see how Michel responds and if he takes advantage of the opportunity and go from there. It definitely could change things for Phil. We’d love to hold him; he’s a special, special player, but we may not be able to.”