Will Shipley sets individual, team goals for 2023 season

Since Dabo Swinney started bringing Clemson into national championship games in 2015, the expectations at Clemson have been elevated. That same standard has trickled down to his players, as Tigers running back Will Shipley set the bar fairly high for his goals this upcoming season, which he shared on ‘Next Up with Adam Breneman’.

“Be the best running back in the nation and to win a national championship,” Shipley said. “It’s a common goal for our team is to hold that trophy up at the end of the year. But then individually I just want to show everybody what I’m capable of. “

There’s no doubt that Shipley has shown the world what he’s been capable of in his two seasons at Clemson. Shipley was a four-star prospect out of Weddington high school in North Carolina where he was ranked the No. 3 running back in the nation for the 2021 class according to On3’s Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

He’d make an immediate impact as a freshman, named a Second-team Freshman All-American by the Athletic. Shipley was immediately thrust into a do it all role for the Tigers, not only rushing for 739 and 11 touchdowns, but also hauling in 16 catches for 116 yards, accumulating 380 in the kickoff return game, and throwing a two-yard touchdown pass against Wake Forest.

His role would only increase in 2022, rushing for 1,182 yards on the ground and adding 566 of receiving and return yards to his total. His 15 rushing touchdowns ranked within the top 15 in the nation and he was selected as one of four finalists for the Paul Hornung Award at the end of the season, awarded to the nation’s most versatile player.

“Like I said, all the work that’s been put in behind closed doors with the lights dimmed down, just to be able to put that into the spotlight and show everyone that I’m the best in the country,” Shipley said.

Shipley could take another jump and build on his previous season of individual success again, but helping lead the Tigers to a national championship win will be a little bit more difficult. Clemson hasn’t made a national championship appearance since they faced LSU in the 2019-2020 season. They also took a year off from six straight ACC title wins in 2021, but bounced back in 2022, bringing the ACC Championship trophy back to South Carolina.