2024 NFL Draft: Colts named a best fit for Clemson RB Will Shipley

Clemson running back Will Shipley brings a versatile skill set to the NFL, making him an ideal fit for the Indianapolis Colts, according to Justin Melo of The Draft Network.

Melo reasons that with the departure of Zack Moss from the Colts, they now have a void to fill in that backup running back role, and with Shipley’s ability to impact both the running and passing games, he could provide Shane Steichen and the offense with a similar presence.

Shipley stands 5-11 and weighs 206 pounds. He posted an elite Relative Athletic Score of 9.61 and checks many of the boxes when it comes to what the Colts look for in the draft at the running back position.

Shipley is an experienced back with 526 career carries over three seasons. He averaged 5.2 yards per carry during that span with 31 touchdowns, including 15 in 2022.

In his career, Shipley was also fairly active as a pass catcher with 104 total targets, averaging 7.0 yards per catch with two touchdowns, and is very good in space. In 2023, he saw a career-high 16 percent of his snaps come lined up in the slot.

In addition to his contributions on offense, Shipley has 35 kick return attempts in college, averaging 26.0 yards per return.

For more on Shipley’s game, here is what Lance Zierlein of NFL.com had to say in his pre-draft scouting report:

“Versatile running back with talent as a runner, receiver and kick returner. Shipley possesses early speed, allowing him to whip through creases and outrun linebackers to the corner. He’s a flexible runner who reads up to the linebackers and curates his runs with a feel for both defensive positioning and run lane development. He can balance through contact but is unlikely to move NFL piles. Shipley does a nice job of setting up opponents from anywhere on the field and has the agility to hop and hurdle over bodies. He’s not a workhorse and still has work to do in order to solidify himself as a third-down option, but the athletic talent and skill level could create an early pathway into a spot as a productive RB2.”

With Tyler Goodson, Evan Hull, and Trey Sermon on the roster behind Jonathan Taylor, one can make a fairly easy argument that running back is not a position that the Colts should use one of their somewhat limited draft picks on.

Hull is coming off an injury in Week 1 of last season that cut his season short, but at Northwestern, he was heavily involved in the passing game, along with his responsibilities as a ball carrier.

Sermon and Goodson have limited experience in the passing game – and overall – but have shown the ability to make defenders miss.

On the flip side, there are a lot of unknowns with this second running back role because of the overall inexperience in this position group outside of Taylor. The trio of Hull, Goodson, and Sermon have just 92 rushing attempts between them and 20 total targets in the NFL.

Perhaps on Day, if the right player were to come along – like Shipley – we could see GM Chris Ballard add some more competition to this position.

Shipley is the 11th-ranked running back in this class and the 139th-rated prospect overall.