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TreVeyon Henderson, Will Shipley and 10 college football freshmen that will be instant stars

By Cody Williams

Clemson running back Will Shipley(1) runs during football practice in Clemson, S.C. Friday, March 5, 2021.Clemson Spring Football Practice
Clemson running back Will Shipley(1) runs during football practice in Clemson, S.C. Friday, March 5, 2021.Clemson Spring Football Practice /
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Will Shipley, Clemson Tigers. Mandatory Credit: USA Today Sports/The Greenville News
Will Shipley, Clemson Tigers. Mandatory Credit: USA Today Sports/The Greenville News /

3. Will Shipley, RB, Clemson

It’s no secret that Dabo Swinney has constructed a talent factory at Clemson. Whenever the Tigers have a great player go to the NFL, they have another highly-touted recruit ready to take his place. Case in point, D.J. Uiagalelei is now taking over at quarterback with Trevor Lawrence gone. But if there’s one spot where that’s not the case, it’s running back.

Travis Etienne was a stalwart in the Clemson offense for his entire career and rewrote the record books in the process. He, of course, is now with Lawrence on the Jacksonville Jaguars. And while there are veterans like Lyn-J Dixon in the backfield right now, there isn’t a proven or dynamic playmaker returning. Will Shipley, on the other hand, is coming into the fold as a freshman.

A 5-star recruit, Shipley is a special prospect as he looks like the total package. He has a solid enough frame at 5-foot-11, 198 pounds that has held up to contact well as he routinely broke tackles in high school. However, this is also a player with elite speed and explosiveness that can hit the hole and leave nothing but a cloud of dust behind him. That’s supplemented by the fact that he already displays impressive vision for a young runner.

Clemson often values veteran presences but, as the offense undergoes substantial changes, they may best be served by investing in the most explosive talent as their top option out of the backfield. Without question, that’s Shipley and it shouldn’t surprise anyone if he leads the team in running back touches and wows when he does get those chances.