Clemson RB Will Shipley will 'for sure' play in Gator Bowl vs. Kentucky

Clemson star running back Will Shipley has yet to announce if he is turning pro after this season, but Shipley will play at least one more game in a Tigers uniform either way.

Dabo Swinney shared during his press conference on Tuesday that Shipley is playing in the Gator Bowl vs. Kentucky. He will let Shipley announce his future plans when he is ready to.

“I’ll let him tell y’all that. I won’t steal his thunder either way,” Swinney said. “So I’ll let him tell y’all whatever he’s going to do. He’s playing in the bowl game, for sure.”

Will Shipley battled injuries some this season but still put together a solid year, rushing for 798 yards and five touchdowns, while averaging 5.1 yards per carry. He also caught 29 passes for 235 yards and two scores.

He was named first-team All-ACC at three different positions in 2022, before putting together another solid season in 2023.

The North Carolina native was ranked as the No. 3 running back in the country and the No. 36 overall player in the nation in the class of 2021, according to the On3 Industry rankings.

Shipley and fellow Tigers running back Phil Mafah have been a dangerous 1-2 punch for defenses to try to slow down throughout their careers.

Mark Stoops discusses his respect for Dabo Swinney ahead of Gator Bowl

Will Shipley playing in the Gator Bowl gives the Tigers one of their top weapons for the game on Dec. 29 against Kentucky and Mark Stoops.

Stoops and Dabo Swinney have spoken highly of each other leading up to the game. This will be the first meeting between the two coaches but Stoops has a lot of respect for Swinney from afar.

“I know Dabo just from crossing paths. Not very well,” said Stoops.

Still, that doesn’t change the high regard he holds him in. As he continued, Stoops says it’s almost difficult to not feel like he knows Swinney because of how well-known he is in the sport for what he has accomplished with the Tigers.

“I have a lot of respect for him and what he has done,” said Stoops. “I wouldn’t say personally that well but you can’t help but feel like you know him. He has been on a big stage there for a long time. He has done very well.”

Clemson last came across Kentucky in the Music City Bowl in 2009. That was Swinney’s second season leading the program and four years before Stoops would take over in Lexington. In what was the final game of Rich Brooks’ career, the Tigers went on to win 21-13, their first bowl victory under Swinney