5-star running back Will Shipley commits to Clemson

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As one running back wearing No. 9 — Travis Etienne — will leave Clemson following the 2020 season, another one will be coming on board.

Will Shipley, the top-ranked all-purpose back in the country for the class of 2021, committed to Clemson on Tuesday, announcing his decision on social media.

The North Carolina native and Weddington High (Matthews, N.C.) star chose Clemson over Notre Dame and North Carolina. He also held offers from Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State and others.

Shipley rushed for 2,066 yards and 31 touchdowns last season and is ranked as a five-star recruit by the 247Sports Composite rankings. He is the No. 24 overall player in the country for the class of 2021 and is Clemson’s 10th commit for the class.

“He’s as dynamic as they get. He can run between the tackles. He can run on the outside. He can line up at receiver or outside at the slot. He can do anything on the football field,” Weddington coach Andy Capone told The State. “Defensively he plays a bunch of positions for us too — safety, linebacker, some corner and is very versatile, very balanced when he runs. A strong runner. And just explosive. A true game-changer.”

Shipley led Weddington to a perfect 16-0 record and a state title last season, rushing for 256 yards and four touchdowns in the state championship game victory over previously unbeaten Lee County.

The bigger the stage, the better Shipley performs, according to Capone. And when Weddington needs a big play, the game plan is simple. It’s also a game plan Clemson often relies on.

“I just think when the lights are bright you’ve just got to get the ball to No. 9 and he’ll make something happen. The biggest games are when he shines the brightest,” Capone said. “As competitive as they come. He hates losing at anything. And he’s always striving to be the best. He expects the best from him and he expects the best from his teammates and he’s not going to stop until he gets it. He really strives for greatness.”

Shipley has been a starter on varsity on both sides of the ball for Weddington since his freshman season when he started at safety and running back. Capone was aware of an impressive eighth-grade athlete coming up prior to the 2017 season but wasn’t sure how he would translate to the high school level.

“You heard about him in eighth grade just dominating and you don’t really know. In eighth grade some people are bigger and faster than people and then they kind of level out,” Capone said.

But Shipley quickly proved that he could dominate at the high school level as well.

“He didn’t spend a day down on JV. He came in the first day of summer and was a varsity starter for us on both sides of the football. You could just tell he had that “it” factor,” Capone said. “The first scrimmage his freshman year, his first carry, he went 80 to the house… It was early when you could see how special he was. He just continues each year to get better and increase his production and his game.”

Shipley will have plenty of competition for carries in 2021 and beyond, even with Etienne graduating and moving on after this season.

If there are no transfers between now and then, the Tigers will have Lyn-J Dixon, Chez Mellusi, Michel Dukes, Demarkcus Bowman, Kobe Pryor and fellow 2021 commit Phil Mafah all competing for carries.

But according to Capone, Shipley has never backed down from competition and he won’t start backing down at Clemson.

“Whatever happens he’s going to learn from whoever’s in front of him and work to outplay him and just feed off of each other. He’s a great teammate and a great guy to have on the team,” Capone said. “He’s not going to ever stop until he gets where he needs to be. We always say competition breeds competitiveness and you’ve gotta have competition. He’s not going to be afraid of any competition … I’d never doubt the kid.”

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