Will Shipley NFL Draft 2024: Scouting Report for Philadelphia Eagles RB

HEIGHT: 5'11"

WEIGHT: 206

HAND: 9⅝"

ARM: 30¼"

WINGSPAN: 74⅛"

40-YARD DASH: N/A

3-CONE: N/A

SHUTTLE: N/A

VERTICAL: N/A

BROAD: N/A

POSITIVES

— Good initial burst. Tears through the line of scrimmage; erases angles early in the play.

— Effective one-cut ability in space. Above-average ability to stop, cut and accelerate again.

— Decisive runner. Not particularly creative, but plunges forward with good burst when the right lane presents itself.

— Useful outlet in the passing game. Flashed ability to be used down the field as well.

NEGATIVES

— Average frame that lacks strength. Struggles to run through contact or keep his balance when approached head on.

— Poor breakaway speed. Regularly caught from behind after the first 10 yards.

— Limited hip mobility. Can struggle to sink his hips and change directions.

— Needs to get more reps in pass protection as well as add more strength to anchor.

2023 STATISTICS

— 12 G, 167 ATT, 827 YDS (5.0 AVG), 5 TD; 31 REC, 244 YDS (7.9 AVG), 2 TD

NOTES

— Born Aug. 29, 2002

— 5-star recruit in 2021 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings

— 27 career starts

— 2022 first-team All-ACC

— Suffered a knee injury in Clemson's 2023 bowl game; did not require surgery

OVERALL

Will Shipley is a running back prospect who checks many boxes but lacks a standout trait.

At 5'11" and 206 pounds, Shipley sports a modest build. He isn't small, but he doesn't have the frame of a true workhorse runner. Though Shipley tries to run hard and maximize what he has, he lacks the muscle to run through most defenders. He can shake off some tackle attempts that come in from the side, but isn't going to attack anybody head on and win.

Shipley mostly wins as a runner with his decisiveness and burst. Shipley isn't one to bounce many runs. He waits for the right gap to open up as designed and pounces on it with immediate burst. Shipley generates a ton of explosiveness in his first few steps and can cover a lot of ground quickly, lending himself to efficient gains.

Shipley also has a little wiggle in the open field. He isn't a loose, flexible runner, but he does have one-cut ability on a lateral plane. Shipley can make one move and make someone miss before accelerating again in a hurry.

However, Shipley quickly tops out when he gets to striding. He's sorely lacking long speed. Shipley gets caught from behind more often than not. He can find 10-yard gains, but not 40 yard gains.

On passing downs, Shipley is a mixed bag. He handles himself well as a receiver, showing adequate route-running ability and soft hands. He's best as a simple checkdown and underneath option, though he flashed some ability to win down the field on wheel and seam routes. However, Shipley needs more experience and strength in pass protection.

Shipley will be a quality option for any team to have in its backfield. He's a decisive runner with enough burst and pass-catching utility to eat snaps here and there. With that said, Shipley's modest frame and lack of standout trait likely restrict him from being a true starting back in the NFL.

GRADE: 6.0 (High-Level Developmental Prospect — 5th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 166

POSITION RANK: RB10

PRO COMPARISON: Myles Gaskin

Written by B/R NFL Scout Derrik Klassen

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