Jay Haynes had Clemson Football fans excited after the CSU performance in 2023 but Garrett Riley’s comments indicate injuries have derailed his momentum more than had been hoped.

The running back they want to win the championship is known to Clemson football. What will be interesting to see is how Jay Haynes, Jarvis Green, and Keith Adams improve his depth behind him.

After sharing carries with now-NFL player Will Shipley for three seasons, Phil Mafah will be the featured back for the 2024 campaign.

Some supporters are unsure if Mafah can be the Tiger offense’s true workhorse player this season after his 186-yard performance against Notre Dame last season.

Dabo Swinney and his staff’s remarks bolster that idea.

This does imply that Swinney wants to include more backs in the lineup as the season goes on. There isn’t much nuance to Mafah.

The fact that Adams is ranked second heading into camp is hardly shocking. Adams is the second most experienced running back, despite the significant gap Swinney mentioned between him and Mafah. He is also most likely the next best blocker.

Many supporters, I believe, were hopeful that Haynes would be the next player to take on Adams in fall camp. Against Charleston Southern last season, Haynes showed off his ability to make plays by scoring a touchdown both in the air and on the ground.

That fleeting momentum was destroyed by injuries, and Riley’s remarks suggest that Green passed him in the spring.

In this context, I interpret the phrase “wild card” in two senses. Riley seems to be recognizing Haynes’s potential to have an influence this autumn. Riley, in my opinion, is likewise not at all certain that it will occur.

If Haynes is in good health and has prepared physically for a larger role, I don’t think the margin between him and Adams is insurmountable. That’s probably what Riley doesn’t know, in my opinion, and it clouds Haynes’ prospects.

Although I hate to keep bringing it up, Haynes’ size for a running back is a major deal-breaker. Despite being a superb athlete, his size will continue to be a hindrance for him for a number of reasons.

He’ll always be more vulnerable to getting hurt. On the field, running backs endure physical abuse. Haynes will likely have difficulty matching Adams’ previously reported blocking ability unless he has been able to gain more muscle.

Though I’m not sure what Haynes will reveal, I’m excited to watch the Big Weigh-In results. Riley has said that his injuries may have hindered his development, so it’s possible that he hasn’t had much opportunity to really gain weight and strength.