Update on Will Shipley’s future with Clemson football team
Clemson running back Will Shipley’s future past this season remains up in the air, but coach Dabo Swinney had one important update Tuesday.
Shipley is practicing and will play in the Dec. 29 Gator Bowl against Kentucky as he makes a decision on his future, Swinney confirmed during a news conference.
He’s deferring to his running back on everything else.
“I’m not gonna steal his thunder,” Swinney said.
Shipley, a junior and co-starter at running back with Phil Mafah, has been non-committal on returning to Clemson in 2024 or leaving either via the NFL Draft or transfer portal. In an interview last month, he didn’t rule out any of those options, emphasizing that he’d meet with his family as he considered things.
But he’ll suit up at least one more time for the Tigers, similar to how defensive tackle Bryan Bresee played in the Orange Bowl last year before declaring for the NFL Draft.
That’s been the norm in college football for years, but recently players have started opting out of bowl games to avoid injury and prepare for the draft. Clemson has three players doing that this year: linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr., cornerback Nate Wiggins and defensive tackle Ruke Orhorhoro. None were with the team Tuesday.
Shipley has 1,139 all-purpose yards for Clemson this season, including 798 rushing yards and seven total touchdowns. But he’s ceded his lead back position to Mafah, his roommate, who leads the team with 894 rushing yards and nine touchdowns.
That’s led to speculation about whether Shipley, a former five-star 2021 recruit from the Charlotte area, might move on from Clemson after taking part in Senior Day ceremonies last month against UNC as an academic senior.
“I think that the opportunity is going to present itself at the end of the season,” Shipley said postgame. “Still haven’t put enough thought into it, and there’s no decision made. But if I do decide to take that route, I didn’t want to regret missing that opportunity here in Death Valley. I didn’t want my parents to miss the opportunity here in Death Valley.”
2023 Gator Bowl
Who: No. 22 Clemson (8-4) vs. Kentucky (7-5)
When: Friday, Dec. 29, at noon
Where: EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla.
TV: ESPN
Betting line: Clemson by 7 points
This story was originally published December 12, 2023 at 12:32 PM with the headline "Update on Will Shipley’s future with Clemson football team."
