Phil Mafah, 08/05/24

On celebrating Coach Spiller's birthday not much I mean he brought in some cookies for you know for his birthday for us to eat but we just sing sang him happy birthday just now but um you know just a work day for us honestly how how has uh coach piller's presence been for you and the running back room uh during the Spring in the summer so far it's On Coach Spiller's presence in the running back room been awesome you know all four years honestly since I've been here um coach sper has been great and you know he's been here he's done that so he has a lot of experience and expertise so you know it's awesome into having the opportunity to be coach I coach likes coach fer so what was the experience like for you at uh Charlotte ACC K it was awesome I mean that was it it was a great experience you know that's always On Mafah's time at ACC Media Day something I wanted to do go up to Charlotte and just be able to represent the team so I'm glad I got to do that glad I got to uh just meet new guys meet other teams there and just talk about um our team team in the offseason and the plans for this year 4 days in the camp you know what's the competition been like between offense and defense so far you know Sparks are always flying we we get each other bre we get each other better you know every single day and you know going against a defense like that you know they get us they get us better and um it's been great though it's the first day we've had pads so actual contact so uh this is the really the first dose of On offensive vs defense competition in camp like real football so um it was good good day though overall what what what changes when you move to full pads you know on the pr field uh really just the On physicality and difference of camp with pads physicality when we have shells on not shells but when we don't have pads on you know it's really just catch and tag off but when we have pads on you know we wrap up we don't bring each other to the ground but we get more of a football feel and a football look uh so it's just a bit more realistic coach mentioned that uh earlier in the season you could exceed 15 carries a game uh for you is that kind of what you are ideally seeking when you entering the season or is that kind of like you want I guess a balanced approach with the other running that's kind of getting involved for you yeah I On taking as many carries as the team needs mean anyone that gets in there I'm sure can do the job but you know I'm willing to take as many carries as you know they want me to you know as long as my team wins that's all I really care about but um we'll definitely see you'll definitely see other backs in there getting work in uh because the standard is a standard and we could throw anyone out there and they'll be good how has the other running backs looked know I know there's coach say you then like the rest I guess but at number two SP how the other running backs have been looking so far they've been looking On how the running backs are looking so far really good I mean they've been progressing really well they haven't had much game experience um up to this point but you know practice going against the defense like we go against you know it's gotten all of us better and um you know I feel like the future is bright for the running back room and there's definitely guys in there that are getting better and I believe will make an impact this year when you look I guess when you uh to get playing time on the field I guess from when you you you fought for playing time when you were coming up as well at CLS I guess what is it a thing that the running back has to show that to get give the coaches confidence like what that I guess thing that that that that these younger running backs need to show for them to get potentially get playing On what players need to do in order to get playing time time yeah in order for anyone to get playing time here at Clemson you know you get guys stand on the foundation coach s always talks about effort intensity aggressive it aggressiveness you got to have that you know those are the basic fundamentals you have to have to be on the field um but you know you just got to work the coaches have to trust you in practice you got to make plays in practice and uh just be able to gain their trust who are some of the Freshman that are standing out to you so far kid a lot of them honestly um Sammy On what freshmen are standing out in camp and their growth Brown on defense um offensively Westco TJ Moore is looking great David is looking great um I really feel like all of our freshmen have taken leaps you know our tight end Christian he's looking really good so you know since they've gotten here um being mid years I've definitely seen them progress and get better um over these past few months so I'm really proud of him what has uh David kind of show from from your perspective in the running backs room oh he just showed On Eziomume's development and growth so far he's just matured you know coming from high school to college is a big transition and I've definitely seen him um make progress from the spring to now so I know he's getting better um you know he's getting used to the speed of the game and you could just tell he's adjusting slowly getting there uh but you know he's making progress and you know he's definitely going to help us and with uh I think J J haes missed missed the spring with an injury what is it like to have him back out there with you guys this summer that's awesome you know On having Jay Haynes back on the field and practicing with them Jay is a game changer you know he can do many different things he's a fast guy he can run inside the box outside the box he can catch the ball he do whatever you want him to do block uh so it's it's always great having uh another running back in the room that's able to play cuz we need all hands on deck you know everyone we we got so statistically you're one of the most frequent users of all the recovery modalities in cl to flight science lab what is it about your background that make take so much care of your body is that a point of Pride for you yeah On using the CASL for reconvey and starting treat his body like a pro now that's a point of Pride for me I'd say you know just talking to uh beina in there the one who runs the castle um he talks about how all the modalities would cost you know upwards of thousands of dollars if we weren't students here you know if I was in an NFL I had I'd have to pay for all that so I just in my thought and process is why not take advantage of of it right now and uh just act like a pro treat my body right so you know it's it's really uh no brainer for me how's that with the season potentially being 17 games how crucial is that aspect of keeping your body I guess fresh as the wi as the months continue for the season you know it's On importance of keeping body fresh with a 17 game schedule very crucial you know everything we do is built around how the season goes so there's definitely been changes and the way we do things you know scheduling wise and um being on the field versus off the field based on you know the 17 game schedule you know so it's definitely something you got to take into account and definitely treat your body right and the coaches do a good job of you know balancing that out for us you came in with a leadership role shley last year and how's it felt to be the guy in Camp so far and what has changed for you uh just stepping up more On stepping up as a leader and being a vocal leader as a vocal leader that's always been something I've been working on you know I was always led by example ship was pretty vocal you know so we just leaned on him for that and I would be vocal but you know he would take care of that most of the time but just uh finding my own voice uh just encouraging the guys you know that's one thing I love to do just encourage the guys throughout practice when it gets hard and you know that's how I find my voice and find my way to lead the guys how do the offensive line from your perspective with Walker Parks coming back and the ongoing Center Battle that's been taking place oh they look amazing you know just to be able to On centers and Coach Luke have all those guys come back and um have Ryan at Center um it being his fourth year him being a v veteran guy uh that's that's really special and really great for our offensive line and Coach Luke know he's a great coach pays attention to the details so we've we've been doing great and we're just climbing from here