Clemson RB Will Shipley was a three-year starter and is considered one of the top running back prospects in this year’s class. Before Shipley officially enters the NFL, let’s look back at how he got to where he is today.
Where Did Will Shipley’s Football Career Start?
Shipley attended Weddington High School in Weddington, N.C. One of the best high school running backs in the nation, Shipley carried the ball 503 times for 4,173 yards and caught 84 passes for 1,411 yards in his three high school seasons. He scored 80 total touchdowns.
The reason Shipley only played three years in high school was because his senior season was postponed to the spring due to COVID-19. Having already committed to play college football, Shipley did not want to play a season so close to his first college year.
A four-star recruit, Shipley fielded offers from 24 Division I programs. He ultimately chose to enroll at Clemson.
Revisiting Shipley’s College Career
Clemson
After forgoing his final high school season, Shipley actually joined the Tigers the January before the start of his freshman season in 2021. While he wasn’t the starter right away, it took him all of three weeks to earn the role. Once Shipley took over, he was off to the races.
Shipley finished his freshman season with 149 attempts for 739 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also caught 16 passes for 116 yards.
After only appearing in 10 games as a freshman, Shipley played in 14 games as a sophomore. He ran the ball 210 times for 1,182 yards and 15 touchdowns while adding 38 receptions for 242 more yards.
Will Shipley! 50 yards to the 🏡 !! pic.twitter.com/TcJYBn31ap
— College Football Network (@CFN365) October 22, 2022
On the surface, Shipley’s junior year might look like a step back, but he was still quite productive. He played two fewer games due to injuries, so his 167 carries weren’t really a drop in volume. He amassed 827 rushing yards but only scored five touchdowns.
Once again, though, Shipley proved to be very effective as a receiver, catching 31 balls for 244 yards and his first two receiving scores. He finished his college career with 3,350 yards from scrimmage and 33 total touchdowns.
With one year of eligibility remaining, Shipley opted not to return to Clemson for one more year and declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Shipley’s Potential in the NFL
In a class lacking a clear RB1, Shipley certainly has a case. Pro Football Network draft analyst Ian Cummings doesn’t necessarily see him as the RB1 but believes Shipley has a lot of upside in the NFL.
“Shipley grades out as a potential top-five RB prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft class and a top-100-overall prospect. He’s one of the most versatile and dynamic playmakers in the class, and he has an easy path to production and sustenance at the NFL level.
MORE: Ian Cummings’ Full Scouting Report of Will Shipley
“… In a modern NFL where phase versatility and all-around utility are craved from RBs, few RB prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft have more versatility than Shipley.
“All told, Shipley brings true three-down, volume upside with his mix of explosiveness, speed, twitch, flexibility, density, and extraordinary spatial feel and processing ability — if he can stay healthy.”
It’s unlikely Shipley will be a three-down back at the NFL level — very few are — but the fact that Shipley has the skill set to do so speaks to his potential at the next level. Depending on where he lands, Shipley could be used as a lead runner, a satellite back, or a hybrid of the two.
Highlights, Records, and More
Shipley’s best season was his sophomore year in 2022. He earned All-ACC First-Team honors that year and was an All-American First-Team member.
Shipley didn’t break any records, but he did finish his college career with 10 100-yard rushing games. Whichever team decides to draft him will be taking a player who is capable of making immediate contributions as a rookie.
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