Will Shipley 2024 Dynasty Rookie Profile

Will Shipley 2024 Dynasty Rookie Draft Profile

Position: RB

School: Clemson 

Class: Junior 

Date of Birth: August 29, 2002

Height: 5-11  Weight: 206 lbs

Athletic Testing

Bio

Will Shipley was a multi-sport athlete at Weddington High School in North Carolina. He received college offers as a lacrosse player while also running track and of course dominating on the football field. Despite the football program not having a season in Shipley’s senior year, he had done enough to earn a five-star recruiting status and offers from a number of schools. He finished his high school career with 4,173 rushing yards, 1,411 receiving yards, and 80 total touchdowns. As the second-ranked running back in the 2021 class, Shipley joined the Clemson Tigers over offers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Ohio State, just to name a few.

Shipley earned second-team freshman All-American honors in 2021 after he amassed 855 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns in his first season at Clemson. He followed that up with 1,182 rushing yards on 210 carries in 2022. He was fourth on the team in receptions with 38 and he scored 15 touchdowns. Shipley added 324 yards as a kick returner which made him the only player in the nation to have at least 1,150 rushing yards, 200 receiving yards, and 300 return yards, according to the Clemson website. He was also the first player in ACC history to earn first-team all-conference at three different positions—running back, all-purpose and specialist. 

In 2023, Shipley played in 12 games and carried the ball 167 times for 827 yards and five touchdowns. He continued to be a weapon in the passing game, hauling in 31 receptions for 244 yards and another two scores. He battled multiple injuries throughout the season, including a knee injury in the team’s bowl game. Luckily, it was not severe enough to require surgery.

College Stats

Will Shipley College Stats Courtesy of sports-reference

Positives

+Receiving Skills 

+Vision 

+Versatility 

+Acceleration 

+Lateral Agility 

+Kick Return Experience 

+12.8% best season reception share (2022)

Negatives

-Undersized 

-Lacks Power

-Struggles in short yardage/goal line situations 

Highlight Reel

Archetype: Satellite +

NFL Comp: James Cook

Yards Per-Formance Score: 64.0 (65th-percentile)

Draft Projection: Fourth Round

Bottom Line:

Will Shipley is an undersized back who can add value as both a runner and a receiver. He is a mismatch out of the backfield who can run any route from the running back position as well as kick out to the slot. He has the skill set to create separation versus linebackers and safeties and natural hands to be a reliable target from any depth. As a runner, Shipley displays good vision and patience with the lateral agility, acceleration, and instincts to use his blocks effectively and to create on his own. He’s not quite a home-run threat, but he has the requisite speed to pick up chunk plays and to beat defenders to the edge. Once he’s in the open field, Shipley has enough elusiveness to make defenders miss.

Where he is lacking, is in short yardage and goal line situations. At sub-210 lbs, Shipley doesn’t quite possess the size or strength to consistently win with power. He’s good enough to break through some arm tackles, but he’s not the guy you want on the field when you need to pick up a few tough yards.

At the NFL level, Shipley projects as a quality No. 2 running back who will be a nice complement to a big-bodied, between-the-tackles grinder. He will add a ton of value on passing downs while serving as a change-of-pace runner. Teams will value his versatility as a runner, receiver out of the backfield and the slot, as well as the ability to be an effective kick returner. That should be enough to garner round four draft capital. In dynasty, Will Shipley is a solid pick in the third round of rookie drafts who can become a high-floor play in PPR formats.

NEXT: Ricky Pearsall 2024 Dynasty Rookie Profile

Resources: DLF, PlayerProfiler, PFN, PFF, TDN

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