Clemson developing depth at running back behind its two stars

Clemson has two of the top running backs in the ACC and arguably the country in Will Shipley and Phil Mafah.

There are question marks about the depth behind those two, though.

This spring is big for CJ Spiller’s group as he searches for other running backs he trusts.

A couple in particular have stepped up for the Tigers this spring in Domonique Thomas and Keith Adams Jr.

“Both of those guys are doing a tremendous job right now, especially with a new system that we’re in,” Spiller said. “They both bring something totally different to our offense.”

Thomas, who originally joined the Clemson program as a walk-on, is a power back who excels in short-yardage situations.

He appeared in four games last season and recorded seven carries for 31 yards.

Adams runs with power as well, but he also has pretty good speed. The son of Clemson Hall of Famer Keith Adams, Adams Jr. redshirted last season while appearing in two games. He had three carries for 21 yards last year.

Clemson will need other backs outside of Shipley and Mafah to step up at some point in the 2023 season. Those two are currently competing to be that No. 3 back.

“Every day is a resume update day. Both of those guys are doing a good job of that, and that’s what you want in any room, honestly, is just competition,” Spiller said. “They’re both doing a tremendous job of taking advantage of the reps that they’re getting.”

A couple of other backs will be competing for playing time during fall camp as Jarvis Green and Jay Haynes will join the program this summer.

Both backs were lightly recruited but had incredible high school careers.

Green attended Dutch Fork High in Irmo and rushed for 2,272 yards as a senior, averaging 9.8 yards per carry. He was named the South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year and a second-team Max Preps All-American.

The On3 Industry rankings have Green as the No. 954 overall player in the nation.

Haynes rushed for 1,888 yards as a senior, including an incredible game in which he rushed for 476 yards. He finished his senior year with 27 touchdowns. Haynes was rated as a the No. 1,071 player in the country by the On3 Industry rankings.

Between Thomas, Adams, Green and Haynes, Spiller feels good about the depth Clemson has at running back behind its two stars.

“I think our guys are on the right track with that,” Spiller said. “You have guys like Domonique Thomas that have to be ready. You have guys like Keith Adams, who is having a phenomenal spring right now. And then you’ve got two guys that’s not even here with Jarvis Green and Jamarius Haynes.”