Clemson running back Will Shipley is ready to prove the doubters wrong.
Speaking to the media on Sept. 1, Shipley covered all bases on what to expect at Mercedes Benz Stadium on Monday night when the Tigers play Georgia Tech.
After defeating the Yellow Jackets 14-8 when the two teams met last season, Shipley wants to start on a strong note as the Tigers’ 2022 season gets underway.
“We just want to go out there and show everybody what we truly are,” Shipley said. “We’ve put in the work — nobody on this team has any doubt about that. But now it’s time to just put the country on notice that Clemson football may have had a ‘down year,’ but we’re ready to come back and show everybody our true self again.”
Finishing last season with a team-high 739 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, Shipley has high expectations for his sophomore season, especially after practicing against what many expect to be one of the nation’s top defenses.
“It’s always big when you can go out there and win the day, especially against our defense,” Shipley said. “I think it’s known nationally that our defense is the best in the country… So, to go out there and perform and have a good day against them gives us a ton of confidence.”
Shipley added that last year’s game between the Tigers and the Yellow Jackets was his “coming out party,” as he was the lone scorer in the Tigers’ six-point victory.
In that game, Shipley also led all rushers in yards and carries with 88 and 21, respectively.
Despite Shipley’s strong performance in last year’s matchup, the Tigers’ lead tailback will have his hands full in Monday’s week one matchup with the Yellow Jackets, who added multiple pieces through recruiting and the transfer portal.
“We’re really not sure what we’re going to get,” Shipley said. “They’ve gotten numerous transfers come in since the spring. They’ve given us totally different defensive fronts the past two years. So, we’re just going to go out there see what they give us, flashlight in hand, and be able to make moves off of that.”
Shipley and the Tigers will kick off their 2022 season at 8 p.m. on Monday.
