Big Board ranking: #58

Positional ranking: #3

 

Overview

Position: RB

College: Clemson

Class: Junior

Age: 21

 

Measurables

Height: 5’11”

Weight: 206 lbs.

Arm length: 30 1/4″

Hand size: 9 5/8”

 

Athletic testing

40-yard dash: N/A

10-yard split: N/A

Vertical jump: N/A

Broad jump: N/A

Bench press: N/A

3-cone drill: N/A

Short shuttle: N/A

 

Strengths

Instinctive overall runner. Outstanding balance and strength. Great acceleration. Very good speed. Patient seeking a crease and will quickly cut to get there. Explosive through the hole and into the open field. Elusive and slippery. Tremendous feet to step through or past low tackle attempts. Will dip his shoulders to avoid would-be tacklers. Excellent juke move. Great burst to split defenders in space. Maximizes yardage when he gets into the open field. Sticks his foot in the ground to get up the field on outside runs. Presses runs inside before bouncing or cutting back with room to run. Can break the first tackle if faced with backfield penetration. Squirms to pick up positive yardage if boxed in. Absorbs hits from the side and keeps momentum to fall forward. Will lower his shoulder to push the pile when he heads into a crowd. Keeps his feet moving on contact. Nose for the end zone and fights through contact. Clears defenders on hurdles. Tremendous receiving ability. Very good hands and able to bring in passes thrown behind him. Has run downfield routes from the backfield. Terrific on angle routes and quick to turn into a runner. Able to evade initial defenders after the catch. Dangerous on screens and swing passes. Experience as a wildcat quarterback and threw a short touchdown versus Wake Forest (2021). Excellent when used as a kick returner.

 

Weaknesses

Will lower his eyes at times on inside runs. Had some drops on low passes. Hands are less reliable with defenders on him. Seems to lower his eyes in pass protection. Ball security is an issue with nine career fumbles in three seasons. Suffered a neck injury and knee injury in 2023.

 

NFL comparison

Kareem Hunt

 

Conclusion

Overall, Shipley is an all-purpose back that can run inside or outside, be a weapon in the passing game, and add value as a returner. His offensive game is very similar to former NFL rushing leader Kareem Hunt.