Clemson Football: Trotter, Shipley earn ACC recoginition

Clemson football running back Will Shipley and linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. have earned ACC Player of the Week honors for their performances in the Tigers 34-28 win at Florida State on Saturday.

Shipley earned Running Back of the week honors, while Trotter, Jr. was named Linebacker of the Week.

Shipley totaled a career-high 238 all-purpose yards, including 121 rushing yards on 20 carries, 48 receiving yards on a career-high six receptions and a 69-yard kickoff return that ignited the second-half surge for Clemson.

The 238 yards were the highest all-purpose yardage total by a Clemson player since Travis Etienne’s 264 against Boston College in 2020.

The 121 rushing yards was his sixth career 100-yard rushing game, and Clemson is undefeated in those games.

On the season Shipley has rushed for 567 yards (5.9) and 8 touchdowns, caught 16 passes for 136 yards (8.5) and returned 4 kickoffs for 137 yards (34.3).

Trotter totaled a career-high 13 tackles in Tallahassee and earned his first ACC weekly award. In the process, he became the first Clemson player credited by the stat crew with at least 13 tackles since James Skalski’s 18 tackles in the Pitt game last season.

In 288 snaps on the season, Trotter has 31 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, 4 passes broken up and 2 quarterback pressures.

The awards are Clemson’s sixth and seventh ACC Player of the Week awards on the 2022 season.

Clemson football beat Florida State with huge contributions from Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. and Will Shipley

Linebacker was one of the big unknowns coming into the season, as the Tigers faced the loss of the leadership of James Skalski.

However, right from the start of the season it’s been evident that this group is much faster and more athletic overall than previous linebacking groups as a whole.

The transition has not always been perfect and if Saturday showed us anything it’s that there is work to be done on the defensive side of the ball, but Trotter has played well.

Shipley’s usage has been a question mark to some this season, but it was obvious he was the focal point of the offensive attack against Florida State, getting 27 touches on offense and an opportunity to return one kick which he made the most of.