We’re currently in the dead period of the off-season, and the Eagles won’t be back on the field until late July. Today, we continue the player profile series to get to know some of the new faces on the Eagles. The plan is to start with the rookies and then move on to the free agents. Today, we take a look at one of the Eagles’ fourth-round picks, Will Shipley.

If you missed out on the previous “Player Profiles” you can check them out here: Quinyon Mitchell ¦ Cooper DeJean ¦ Jalyx Hunt

I will admit, when the Eagles drafted Will Shipley out of Clemson in the fourth round, I was a little frustrated. Before Shipley was picked, there were prospects I was more excited about, like MarShawn Lloyd, Jaylen Wright, and Bucky Irving. After Shipley was picked, there was Ray Davis, Isaac Guerendo, Braelon Allen, and Audric Estimé. Shipley just wasn’t what I would have liked at the time, but the Eagles picked Shipley, and I must do my duty as a fan and support him. I don’t hate him; I think as far as what the Eagles need, he fits, but it’s just not the most exciting pick that could’ve happened for the birds at pick 127. Let’s take a look at our new RB for the birds.

High School & College

Born and raised in Weddington, North Carolina, Will Shipley attended Weddington High School. He received a four-star rating from ESPN and a five-star grade from 247 Sports. ESPN also ranked him as the second-best RB in his class. During his junior year of high school, he committed to play football for the Clemson Tigers. Shipley finished his career at Weddington High School with 503 rushing attempts for 4,173 yards, 84 receptions for 1,411 receiving yards, and 80 total touchdowns. This is a pretty impressive high school career considering he skipped his senior year due to the season being moved to the spring because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It didn’t take long for Shipley to see the field at Clemson. As a true freshman, he finished the season with 149 carries for 1,182 yards and 15 touchdowns, while also adding 38 receptions for 242 yards. Shipley continued to play two more seasons for the Tigers. He battled a nagging knee injury during his junior year; although he continued to play, he was never at 100%. Despite this, he finished his career with 526 rushing attempts for 2,747 yards (5.2 yards per carry) and 85 receptions for 602 yards and 2 touchdowns. Throughout his college career, Shipley earned First-Team All-American and First-Team All-ACC honors in 2022.

So, what makes Will Shipley an intriguing prospect for some and just a guy (JAG) for others? Let’s take a look.

Strengths

• Versatility: If there is one thing I can say for certain that makes me excited for Shipley, it is his versatility as a rusher and receiver. Throw in the ability to return kicks, and you have a roster spot for him always.
• Vision: Shipley has excellent vision, enabling him to navigate tight areas and find running lanes.
• Speed: He has elite short-area speed. The ability to get through the hole and take off will impress Eagles fans.
• Blocking: This is a strength because he has shown he is willing to block. Most RBs in this day and age may shy away from contact when it comes to picking up a blitz. Shipley isn’t the best at it, but he’s willing, and in today’s game, that’s all you can really ask for.
• Pass-catching ability: Shipley has reliable hands and is able to contribute out of the backfield as a receiver.

Weaknesses

• Injury concerns: Shipley did have a knee injury that plagued his junior year. While it doesn’t seem to be a trend, you do worry about knee injuries with RBs.
• Power: He doesn’t break a lot of tackles. He won’t be confused for a power back.
• Ball Security: He has a history of fumbles, which is something you hope to see him clean up at the next level.
• Size: At 5’11” and 205 pounds, Shipley may be considered undersized for the three-down back role.

Summary

Shipley has a chance to become the Eagles’ #2 RB, and many fans, including myself, would love nothing more. The thing about Shipley is that he isn’t elite at anything. He’s good at everything. If you look at a highlight tape, which is supposed to be exciting, you just won’t get excited because he doesn’t really do anything crazy.

I think there is a role in the NFL for Shipley, and while I may not be in love with him as a player, I do respect him as a person. It is a known fact that he is a hard worker on and off the field. Also, being from the Clemson area, it is nice to see him and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. on the Eagles. I do hope he turns out to be a special player for the Birds, maybe in a complementary role, like a Darren Sproles, that resonates well with the fans. Training camp begins soon, and I’m sure you will hear Shipley’s name quite a bit.

Player Comparison:  James Cook