Will Shipley, RB Clemson: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Shipley was a four-star recruit from Weddington High School in Matthews, N.C. in the class of 2021

Will Shipley was Clemson’s most productive offensive weapon in 2022. The junior will follow his program’s expanding running back pipeline to the league. Shipley is well-rounded but lacks the dominant athletic traits to lock down a top 100 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.

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Will Shipley, RB Clemson: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Junior running back from Weddington, N.C.

Background: Shipley was a four-star recruit from Weddington High School in Matthews, N.C. in the class of 2021. He was the No. 32 recruit (five-star) according to 247Sports, No. 50 (four-star) for Rivals, and No. 36 (four-star) for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 22nd in the nation (four-star) with an 88 grade out of 100. Shipley rushed for 4,173 yards on 503 carries during his three high school seasons (senior season canceled because of COVID-19). He also produced 84 receptions for 1,411 receiving yards and scored 80 total touchdowns (55 rushing, 23 receiving, and two defensive). As a high school junior, Shipley ran for 2,066 yards and 31 touchdowns on 188 carries to accompany 34 receptions for 582 yards and nine touchdowns. As a sophomore, he rushed for 1,417 yards and 19 touchdowns on 206 carries while snagging 31 receptions for 406 yards and six touchdowns. Shipley also totaled 49 tackles and two interceptions on defense. As a freshman, he contributed 84 tackles and two interceptions on defense and ran for 690 yards and five scores on 109 carries. He also caught 19 passes for 423 yards and eight touchdowns. Shipley earned an invitation to the Under Armour All-America Game. He was the 2019-20 Football Gatorade Player of the Year in North Carolina and the Charlotte Observer Player of the Year. That year, Shipley led Weddington to a 16-0 record and the State 3A Championship. He was a three-time All-Conference and All-County selection and a two-time All-State selection. Shipley received MaxPreps All-American honors twice. He also played lacrosse and earned several scholarship offers. In 38 career games, he scored 49 goals and had 59 assists. Weddington won two state lacrosse titles with Shipley. He also won the state championship in the 55-meter dash in the only year he ran indoor track, recording a time of 6.36 seconds. His brother, James, played lacrosse at Penn. The younger Shipley was born on Aug. 29, 2002.

Injuries & Off-Field: Suffered a knee injury against North Carolina State (2021) that cost him two games, missed 2022 spring practices, battled through injuries in 2022, missed 2023 spring game with a knee injury, fundraised and presented a $10,000 check in May 2022 to Levine Children’s Hospital, worked with K.J. Henry to create the 1 CLEM5ON endowment

Awards: 2021 Honorable Mention All-ACC, 2021 All-ACC Academic Team, 2021 Second Team Freshman All-American (The Athletic), 2022 First Team All-ACC (RB, All-Purpose, & Specialist), 2022 All-ACC Academic Team

Pros: Experienced kick returner, motor runs hot, patiently sits behind the line waiting for an opening, squeezes close to his blockers before bouncing to the hole, reads his blockers well, burst to reach the second and third levels, foot speed, agility and ankle flexibility to make sharp jump cuts, good change of direction skills, subtly shifts direction at full speed to make defenders miss, spin move, stiff arm, improved contact balance from 2021 to 2022, drives legs through contact, nice hands catcher, extends to make catches outside his frame, some experience working in the slot, experience and upside as a pass catcher, speed stresses linebackers in coverage

Cons: Expanding injury history, lacks diverse special teams experience, four fumbles in 2022, a little high-hipped, not twitchy, muscular but not thick, doesn’t have the speed or burst to eliminate pursuit angles, doesn’t have elite burst or speed, lacks home run speed, caught from behind on long runs, ability to turn the corner and win the edge is inconsistent, doesn’t really accelerate until he sees wide open grass, vision as a between the tackles runner is hot and cold, runs high in the open field, too many instances of not breaking the first tackle, brought down by shoelace and ankle tackles, frame packs inconsistent power, struggles to break tackles with power, doesn’t decelerate and redirect at an elite level, late to recognize threats in pass protection, ducks head into contact as a blocker, low-level blocking technique and strength

Overview: Shipley is an experienced kick returner but otherwise lacks special teams experience. His motor runs hot, leading to him grinding out yards after contact despite not possessing a powerful frame. Shipley squeezes close to his blockers and patiently sits behind the line waiting for an opening before bouncing through the hole. He reads his blockers in the open field well. Shipley flashes the burst to reach the defense’s second and third levels. The former four-star recruit has ideal foot speed and enough agility to make sharp jump cuts. He changes directions well but struggles to decelerate from his top speed to make instantaneous cuts. Instead, Shipley uses subtle changes of direction to make defenders miss when he’s traveling at top speed. He uses a spin move and stiff arm to generate extra yards. The North Carolina native displayed improved contact balance from 2021 to 2022 and drives his legs through contact, but that’s not an area of strength in his prospect profile. Shipley is a natural hands catcher who extends to make catches outside his frame. He has some experience working in the slot and possesses the speed to stress linebackers in coverage. Unfortunately, Shipley has an expanding injury history that could severely limit his projection to the NFL. He fumbled four times in 2022. While Shipley is a well-rounded athlete, he’s not twitchy and lacks the muscle mass to break tackles consistently. The junior doesn’t have the speed or burst to eliminate pursuit angles and gets caught from behind when trying to break home runs. His ability to turn the corner and win the edge is inconsistent. Shipley waits too long to accelerate, often needing to see the runway before shifting gears. His vision when operating between the tackles is hot and cold. First contact brings Shipley down too often. He shouldn’t be counted on to move piles or generate large amounts of yards after contact between the tackles. Shipley is late to recognize threats in pass protection, ducks his head into contact, and displays low-level blocking technique and strength.

Overall, Shipley is a well-rounded athlete who lacks the elite traits to create dynamic plays consistently, but he has a reliable floor because of his contributions as a pass catcher. Shipley projects as the second back in a rotation who primarily handles passing down duties. He could play outside zone but might lack the speed profile to fill that role.

Role & Scheme Fit: Rotational back in an inside zone or gap scheme

Round Projection: Late Third to Mid Fourth

Size: 5'11", 205 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 04-17-23