Signee analysis: 5-star RB Will Shipley

Shipley can do it all.

by TigerNet Staff - Wed Dec 16 07:40:28 GMT-05:00 2020

Will Shipley - Running Back
TigerNet: (4.67)

Height: 5-11 Weight: 198 Hometown: Matthews, NC (Weddington HS) Class: 2021

ESPN:

#22 Overall, #2 RB, #2 NC

Rivals:

#49 Overall, #1 RB, #1 NC

24/7:

#55 Overall, #4 RB, #3 NC

Clemson signed the nation’s No. 1 all-purpose back Will Shipley.

More on Shipley...

Will Shipley - 5-star APB - Matthews, NC

Committed since: 5/5/20.

Listed size: 5-11 198.

Early enrollee

Brings to Clemson: Shipley fully earned his tag as an “all-purpose back” in highly-productive sophomore and junior, state championship seasons at Weddington (NC). As a sophomore, Shipley accounted for 1,876 total yards (1,417 rushing/393 receiving/60 kick return/6 passing) and 22 total touchdowns (19 rushing/6 receiving/3 passing). As a junior, those numbers ballooned to 2,655 yards (2,040 rushing/582 receiving/23 kick return/10 passing) and 40 touchdowns (30 passing/8 rushing/2 passing). Shipley hasn’t shied away from comparisons to a Charlotte-area idol in Christian McCaffrey and he’s eager to show his versatility as a runner and receiver on the college level.

Depth chart fit: We wrote this time last year about the running back picture and how Travis Etienne was likely NFL-bound, but now it seems like that really is going to happen as the record-setting back has further shown his versatility and also added a Clemson degree. Shipley is coming in with another talented back in Phil Mafah and enters a Clemson running back room probably lacking a clear heir apparent to Etienne at the top of the depth chart.

Tony Elliott on Shipley: "He's a man of many talents. Once he gets to the green grass, you're not going to catch him. Has tremendous speed. Really good quickness for a guy his size. Can run through tackles very, very powerful. Once he gets a step on you, you're not going to catch this young man. I really, really like his temperament and personality. He's a guy who has 'scatback' ability but he's got the size and the power. Doesn't mind the dirty work when he needs to. Has the ability to play receiver and really, really, really good hands out of the backfield. He's going to be a guy who is going to be a matchup problem for a lot of people going forward."

Clemson bio

Overview: Ranked as five-star prospect by 247Sports and as a high four-star by ESPN.com and Rivals.com … ranked as the No. 21 overall player in the nation by ESPN.com, which also listed him as the second-best running back in the nation and second-best player from North Carolina … rated as the No. 1 all purpose running back and No. 45 overall player in the nation by Rivals.com… ranked No. 52 by 247Sports, the nation’s best all-purpose back and third-best player in North Carolina … invited to play in the Under Armour All-America Game … Gatorade Player of the Year in North Carolina and Charlotte Observer Player of the Year for 2019 … led his 2019 team to a 16-0 record and the state 3A title … MVP of the 2019 state championship game when he rushed for 256 yards and scored four touchdowns in a win over Lee County for his program’s second straight state title … three-time all-conference and all-county selection who was also a two-time all-state selection and two-time MaxPreps All-American … did not have a 2020 high school season due to the COVID-19 pandemic … rushed for 4,173 yards on 503 carries (8.3 yards per rush) in his three-year high school career … had 1,411 receiving yards on 84 catches for a 16.8-yard average … scored 80 touchdowns in his career — 55 rushing, 23 receiving and two on defense … had an incredible 2019 season when he had 2,066 yards rushing on just 188 carries (11.0 yards per rush) and scored 31 rushing touchdowns … also had 34 catches for 582 yards and nine receiving touchdowns in 2019 … had 42 touchdowns that year, including 31 rushing, nine receiving and two on defense … as a sophomore in 2018, posted 1,417 yards rushing on 206 carries and scored 19 touchdowns … added 31 catches for 406 yards and six receiving touchdowns … added 49 tackles and two interceptions on defense … as a freshman, had 84 tackles and two interceptions … contributed 690 rushing yard and five rushing touchdowns on 109 carries, as well as 19 catches for 423 yards and eight receiving touchdowns, in his freshman campaign … also an outstanding lacrosse athlete who received college offers for that sport as well … scored 49 goals and had 59 assists in 38 career games … had 29 goals and 33 assists in 21 games in 2017 … helped his team to a pair of state lacrosse titles … won the state championship in 55 meters in the only year he ran indoor track, recording a time of 6.36 in the 55 meters … plans to enroll at Clemson in January 2021 … committed to Clemson on May 5, 2020 … recruited by Danny Pearman and Tony Elliott … played for Andy Capone at Weddington High School … straight-A student in high school … born Aug. 29, 2002.

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— Clemson Football (@ClemsonFB) December 16, 2020