RB Will Shipley Update

Last July I introduced the Adopt-A-Player concept. Adopt-A-Player is an annual happening in which a top high school football prospect is randomly selected with the intention of following his football career. Speedy running back Will Shipley from Weddington High School, NC, was chosen as our inaugural Adopt-A-Player member. How did Shipley do this past season? Well, read on as we update you on his gridiron exploits.

Shipley committed to playing his college football at Clemson. As a true freshman, he made an immediate impact, rushing 149 times for 738 yards (5.0 average) with 11 touchdowns. Shipley caught the ball 16 times for 116 yards and averaged 27.1 yards on 14 kickoff returns. He even threw a two-yard touchdown pass.

Shipley’s 11 rushing touchdowns were the second-most by a true freshman at Clemson since the NCAA adopted permanent freshman eligibility in 1972, superseded only by Travis Etienne’s 13 touchdown season in 2017.

He was hurt in the NC State game on Sept. 25. The injury initially looked gruesome. The fear was that Shipley tore his ACL, but it turned out to be a less-serious tibia injury. It ended up causing him to miss just the Boston College and Syracuse games.

Shipley also missed the Nov. 13 game versus Connecticut. He was available to play, but Clemson opted to rest the bumped and bruised Shipley.

Shipley received many accolades for his freshman season efforts. To name just a few, he was selected second-team Freshman All-American according to The Athletic, fourth-team All ACC pick by Phil Steele, and All-ACC Academic Team selection.

We’re looking forward to seeing how Shipley does in the upcoming 2022 season. Clemson will take on the Furman Paladins in their season opener on September 10th.