Will Shipley addresses Clemson’s NIL approach, his experience

Clemson running back Will Shipley has had a great first two seasons of college football, which has resulted in some good NIL opportunities.

The Tigers star was on the Next Up with Adam Breneman podcast and topic of NIL came up. Shipley said he has really enjoyed the opportunity to use his platform to give back in ways both big and small.

“It’s been great,” Shipley said. “I see a lot of people have a negative perception of the two words Clemson and NIL just because of past remarks that coach Swinney has made and just the reputation of it all. But it’s been great for me to be able to utilize it. Just to be able to give back, that’s my biggest thing. I understand that the money that I receive or anything along those lines is just temporary. It’s small compared to where I want to go and what I want to do in life, which is why I just tried to give back as much as I can. Whether it’s buying one of my friends a meal or donating money to Levine’s Children’s Hospital, something I’m very passionate about.”

Shipley currently has an On3 NIL Valuation of $326k. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.

Dabo Swinney gave Will Shipley an NIL idea

The past remarks Will Shipley referenced include when head coach Dabo Swinney said Clemson built the “program in God’s Name, Image and Likeness” as well as when Swinney said he would quit before players were allowed to get paid at the college level.

But Shipley said Swinney is supportive of NIL and even gave Shipley the idea for his Ship Happens apparel collection.

“It’s blowing up and it’s bigger than it’s ever been in terms of t-shirt sales and just the money that I’m receiving from it,” Shipley said on the podcast. “That’s all coach Swinney. I would’ve never thought of that idea. Would’ve never thought of that phrase. For all the people who don’t think he’s advocating for it, that’s a prime example of it right there. He wants to see us succeed and thrive in the NIL era as well.”