Elite RB Will Shipley Picks Clemson, Details Decision with SI All-American
Dabo Swinney looks to have his next great running back at Clemson. Three-sport class of 2021 star Will Shipley went public with the move Tuesday afternoon.
"I'm committing to Clemson University and Coach Swinney," he told SI All-American. "I'm very excited to be 'All In,' you know?"
The dynamic Mathews (N.C.) Weddington running back, who won Gatorade Player of the Year in the state after registering more than 2,000 yards and 30 touchdowns from scrimmage as a junior, knew he was headed to the ACC power about a week before the rest of the college football world did.
"I got on a Zoom call with Coach Swinney, Coach (Tony) Elliot, the running back coach, and that's when it really hit me," Shipley said. "You don't find this opportunity. It's once in a lifetime. For me to even think about passing up this opportunity, I'd be delusional.
"The culture Coach Swinney has created, the people that make up that culture, it's very very special. It's a place I can go where the people from my town, the people that have helped me get to where I am today, where they can come watch me. They can come see me do my thing and put on for my people. It gives me the opportunity to win national championships and create relationships with guys who are very similar to me, that I will carry on through the rest of my life."
The rising senior recruit picked Clemson over two dozen scholarship options, admitting Notre Dame was among those also under heavy consideration.
The decision to end the recruiting process as a whole, especially considering Shipley has been one of the most coveted recruits in the country for years, comes with peace on multiple levels.
"It's so relieving, an absolute weight just lifted off my shoulders," he said. "I've been in this process for almost three years, so to get the time to finally be able to focus on giving 100% to my family and also becoming prepared and being able to focus on being the most ready for college football at Clemson University.
"I can tell you right now, I will cut off all communication with any other programs. I will not be talking to any other coaches about recruitment or anything like that. I'm 150% all in and I'm the happiest I've been in a while."
As one of America's best looks towards the 2020 football season and beyond, this move will be paired with sacrifice. Shipley will graduate from Weddington High in December and enroll at Clemson in January. It means little to no track and field and no lacrosse for the second-straight spring.
Each sport has played a role in his ascent to one of the top college football programs in the country and the lacrosse exploits had him recruited at a high level.
"I would start with lacrosse," he said. "The quick cutting, the turning-around, knowing the game and the IQ of the whole thing -- directly translates to football. It's helped me so much with my horizontal cutting, acceleration, quickness, change of speed, etc.
"With track, it's just straight-line speed, getting out as quick as you can. Form. Being a multi-sport athlete, I think, is the best thing I probably ever did in terms of getting me ready for college football and being the most ready as early as I can."
After what Shipley hopes is another deep run in the North Carolina State football playoffs in 2020, he has lofty goals for his time in the ACC.
"Getting to spend that time with Coach Elliot, what I need to do to get in there and make an impact freshman year, which is what I want to do," he said of his goals. "I would just be able to re-prioritize everything and I'll have a lot more time to myself now.
"I'm kind of like a scat back, where I'm gonna be getting runs in between the tackles. I'm big enough, versatile enough for that, but he's also gonna be able to split me out, use me a lot more in the passing game. That's going to give them more of an advantage and make it a lot harder for defensive coordinators, to not only focus on a one-dimensional back, but a versatile back who can do more than just run in between the tackles."
Before that potential freshman football impact in 2021, there will be a concerted effort to improve the Clemson recruiting class he is now apart of.
"I'm 100 percent going to be on the recruiting trail," he said. "I want to bring in the best class we can bring in to win national championships. I've already been speaking to some guys but I'm definitely going to work my butt off for Coach Elliot and Coach Swinney, try to make their job a little bit easier."
Shipley is verbal commitment No. 10 for Swinney's staff to this point of the 2021 cycle. The group is in contention for the top overall recruiting class nationally after finishing second in 2020.
For more on Clemson football and recruiting, visit AllClemson.com.
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