Dabo Swinney: Despite Dixon's exit, Clemson's running back room 'one of deepest' on team
Scott KeepferCLEMSON – A plan to redshirt freshman running back Phil Mafah may be put on hold following Lyn-J Dixon’s entry into the NCAA transfer portal Monday.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney admitted during his weekly news conference on Tuesday that Dixon’s decision came as a surprise.
Dixon, a senior from Butler, Georgia, was the team's top returning rusher with 1,372 career yards, but had rushed for only 48 yards on 10 carries this season.
“Yeah, it was a surprise – we’re in the middle of the season,” Swinney said. “But it’s 2021, I guess nothing should be a surprise. It’s kind of where we are. I doubt we’re the only school in the country in 2021 that’s had somebody go in the portal. He wanted a head start on the portals; we wish him well.”
Several players will see their status elevated in a deep running back room behind starter Will Shipley, a freshman who has rushed for 168 yards and four touchdowns during the past two games.
“We’ve still got excellent depth – it’s one of the deepest positions on our team,” Swinney said.
Sophomore Kobe Pace is listed as Shipley’s backup for Saturday’s game at N.C. State.
More:
- ACC rankings: Could Clemson football be showing some vulnerability?
- One play shows best and worst of Clemson freshman Will Shipley so far
- Clemson football headed to N.C. State with doubts about QB, offense
“Shipley’s a special player, Kobe’s a special player – highly recruited guys and they’re young, very talented,” Swinney said.
Shipley has 175 yards rushing this season with a 5.3 yards-per-carry average while Pace has 88 yards on 18 attempts – an average of 4.9 yards per rush.
But Swinney reiterated that more chances could be in the offing for junior Michel Dukes and graduate Darien Rencher.
“Certainly this is more opportunity for Michel,” Swinney said. “We’ll see how he takes advantage of it; he’s just a guy who’s got to have a little more commitment to the details of what he’s doing. He’s a very, very talented player.
“Rencher’s a guy we trust immensely. Every time he gets an opportunity, he’s productive. He’s shown that, so we really trust him.
“And obviously we’ve got Phil Mafah. That’ll be kind of a week-to-week type of deal, where we go with him. He’s an incredibly talented player, but we feel good about the guys we’ve got.”
Dixon became the ninth Clemson player – and third running back – to enter the transfer portal since last October.
He joined running backs Chez Mellusi (Wisconsin) and Demarkcus Bowman (Florida), cornerbacks Derion Kendrick (Georgia) and LeAnthony Williams Jr. (Marshall), offensive lineman Kaleb Boateng (Florida), linebacker Mike Jones Jr. (LSU), and defensive tackles Jordan Williams (Virginia Tech) and Nyles Pinckney (Minnesota) in entering the portal.