Clemson’s running back room will have one less player going into the 2021 season.
Former four-star running back Chez Mellusi has decided to enter the transfer portal. It’s not hard to see why Mellusi decided to leave. Especially since there was a very good chance that he was going to be losing playing time going forward.
He entered spring practice competing with senior Lyn-J Dixon, sophomore Kobe Pace, freshman Phil Mafah, and freshman Will Shipley for the starting running backs job. Mellusi then was outperformed in the Tigers Orange and White game by Dixon, Pace, and Mafah. He also only out gained freshman Will Shipley by three yards.
In that game he had 16 yards on five carries and no touchdowns and judging by how that game played out, Mellusi was no better than third on the depth chart, the sasme spot he found himself end at the end of last season.
Last season the junior from Naples, Florida rushed 24 times for 151 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught five passes for 38 yards and had a receiving touchdown in 88 snaps over 10 games. He gained 427 total rushing yards and six touchdowns on 71 carries and had five catches for 38 yards and a receiving touchdown in 169 career snaps over 21 games at Clemson.
Losing Mellusi will hurt Clemson a little as far as depth goes at the running back position and in game experience to an extent but Clemson still has plenty of horses in their stable. The Tigers also have junior Michel Dukes and Darien Rencher, who is headed into his sixth season, still on the roster.
