We posed a question to Clemson football fans a month ago when we asked if Will Shipley could win the starting position at running back as a freshman. Next to no one– including yours truly– thought it was possible.
Now, as we stand a little more than a week out from the start of the 2021 season, the answer to that question is being seen in a completely different light.
No one ever denied Shipley’s talent and skill set, but with the veteran returners and the sheer depth at the running back position, we at least thought he’d have to wait his turn and build up playing time over the course of a full season, earning the trust of the coaching staff over time. After all, that’s the pattern we’ve seen in the past and that’s exactly what we saw with a freshman Travis Etienne just a few years ago.
But, things are different with Will Shipley.
Clemson football fans need to prepare for Will Shipley to win the starting RB position sooner rather than later
There has been no player– defensive or offensive, veteran or freshman– who has received more praise during preseason camp than Will Shipley.
Dabo Swinney has talked glowingly about him and says he’s the fastest player on the team. His teammates continue to identify him as a standout. Anyone watching practices or the scrimmages can see it. He’s just different.
"“Yeah, he’s not like a typical freshman; I mean, it’s pretty easy to see,” head coach Dabo Swinney said earlier in August. “First of all, he came in January, so he’s gonna be ahead anyway but then just how he carries himself. 4.0 (GPA) guy, he’s just locked in all the time, everything. He’s gonna win every sprint. You know he’s not a guy that’s going to be respectful to everyone else and go, ‘well, maybe I shouldn’t win this sprint.’“He ain’t worried about nobody else, and he’s gonna win every sprint. If you can’t run with him, too bad. You know that’s just his mindset. He’s not a guy that’s gonna wait until his senior year to be a leader. He showed up here as a leader, and he’s one of the most respected guys on this team already since he got here in January. Just his work ethic. Tremendous, tremendous work ethic, and just how he carries himself is, you know, unique for a freshman.”"
Shipley has an explosiveness and a speediness to him that just can’t be taught. He’s confident in himself and that can be seen in the way he jumps to the front of line for drills and continues to work each and every time he gets on the field.
He has been splitting time with veterans Kobe Pace and Lyn-J Dixon on the first-team and while we’re not expecting that he’ll be the first running back to run out on the field against Georgia, what we can tell you is that there’s no way the Clemson football coaching staff is keeping him on the sideline against the Bulldogs.
If he’s already splitting starter reps as a freshman– and has continued to do so throughout preseason camp– we believe fans need to prepare for the freshman to become the starter sooner rather than later.
Clemson has always given the inside-edge to the veterans and they’ll get the first shot, but something tells us it won’t be long before Shipley forces the hand of the staff, if he hasn’t already.