With Clemson RB Will Shipley climbing toward the 2024 NFL Draft, many are wondering where he came from and how he became an offensive star for the Tigers. Where is Shipley from, and where has his journey taken him?
Where Is Clemson RB Will Shipley From?
On home-game weekends, Shipley is easy to find. Odds are, he’s on Memorial Field in Clemson, South Carolina, with the rest of his teammates. But Shipley grew up across the border to the north, in North Carolina. He grew up in the town of Matthews and played football at Weddington High School, just 15 minutes away.
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Weddington is in south-central North Carolina, close to the Carolina border, while Clemson is in the northwest pocket of South Carolina. For Shipley, it’s a simple two-and-a-half-hour drive between the two, almost directly east to west.
Shipley could have gone elsewhere to further his football career. Out of high school, Shipley — who was a fringe five-star recruit and a top-50 talent on multiple boards — had scholarship offers from Alabama, Penn State, and Notre Dame, among others. But the Clemson Tigers gave Shipley an NFL development opportunity on his front doorstep.
Shipley Is a Top 2024 NFL Draft RB Prospect
Wherever Shipley’s journey will take him next, the 5’11”, 210-pound running back has the tools to be a versatile weapon in the modern NFL. He also has the skill set to challenge TreVeyon Henderson, Raheim Sanders, Trey Benson, and others for the RB1 mantle in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Though Shipley doesn’t quite have the elite mass and physicality of his counterparts, he’s one of the most explosive and flexible pure runners in the 2024 group. On top of that, he’s also a multifaceted receiving threat with proven three-down utility. And so far in his collegiate career, he’s achieved the production to prove his mettle.
Shipley could sneak into the late first round, and on Day 2, he’d be a tremendous value deal for teams looking to add a dynamic, versatile playmaker. Potential suitors include the Chargers, Cardinals, Packers, Rams, and Buccaneers — most of which would give him a stark change of scenery from the Carolinas.
You can see the full accounting of Shipley’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as a summary of his NFL Draft standing and his NFL projection, in his full 2024 NFL Draft scouting report right here at Pro Football Network.