Five-star RB Will Shipley of Matthews, NC is one of the most talented athletes in the country in the 2021 class. This past season he rushed for 2066 yards and 30 touchdowns and had 34 catches for 582 yards and 8 touchdowns. He’s rated the #1 all-purpose back in the country in the 247 composite. Clemson is one of the schools he’s focused on and he visited there late last month.

“It was a great visit. I got the chance to see more of the campus than I have in the past,” Shipley said. “We were able to take a tour and see what Clemson is like when it isn’t a game or camp. I also got to talk to the coaches and just see what they are like. We saw more of the facilities and spent a couple of hours out on campus.”

Shipley also got some quality one-on-one time with Tigers’ head coach Dabo Swinney.

“He was telling me that I was a great fit for the program,” Shipley said. “He was saying that I was a fit for the family atmosphere that they have. He didn’t put any pressure on me to commit but he said he knew I would make the right decision. If I wind up at Clemson that would be great, but he knows I will be great wherever I go.”

Shipley also visited Duke and NC State in January. During the season he got to games at Clemson, Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Notre Dame, North Carolina and NC State. He has strong family ties to State. This spring he plans to see Notre Dame, Ohio State, Georgia and Stanford.

“There is a group of schools I am looking at,” Shipley said. “I want to take visits and see what it’s like spending time with players and the coaches I would be with. I want to see what the player’s atmosphere is like because if you’re going to spend part of your life somewhere you need to know what it’s like.”

But his most recent visit to Clemson left him with a very positive feeling for the program.

“That is somewhere I can see myself playing,” Shipley said. “There is a great family atmosphere there. I can see myself playing there for sure.”