The Eagles selected running back Will Shipley with the 127th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Philadelphia acquired this pick, sending Houston a 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 123 overall) in exchange for a 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 127 overall) and a 2025 fifth-round pick.

"I'm going in there and I'm going to work my butt off and do what I'm told," said Shipley in his first press conference as an Eagle, "so that I can just continue to gain the respect of my teammates and my coaches."

Shipley (5-11, 206 pounds) is a versatile running back who can be explosive as a runner, a pass catcher, and a kick returner. He spent three years at Clemson, tallying 3,249 total yards of offense and 34 total touchdowns. The 21-year-old was the lead kick returner for Clemson, racking up 904 return yards and averaging 26.6 yards per kick return during his college career.

In 2023, the Weddington, North Carolina native was the first Power 5 player since Christian McCaffrey (2014-16) to have 2,500+ rushing yards, 500+ receiving yards, and 900+ kickoff return yards in a three-season span. This came a year after Shipley became the first Power 5 player to have 1,150+ rushing yards, 200+ receiving yards, and 300+ kickoff return yards in a season since new teammate Saquon Barkley in 2017.

"Will has exceptional talent that makes him special from the rest because not only can he run the rock, but he is a guy you can move all around the field," said Clemson Running Backs Coach C.J. Spiller. "He brings special teams value, so I know he will have an immediate impact. They are getting a five-star person. His leadership skills are what set him apart from everyone else and I know the entire building and community will love him."

The fourth-round pick heard from Barkley just minutes after getting drafted by the Eagles. Shipley admired Barkley's game growing up, following him at Penn State and during his first six seasons in the league. "Get ready to work" was the message from Barkley, who signed with the Eagles as a free agent on March 14.

Shipley is also familiar with the City of Brotherly Love. His older brother, James, plays on the University of Pennsylvania lacrosse team. He and his family have spent plenty of time in Philadelphia.

"When the call came through from Philadelphia, I could not have been more ecstatic," Shipley said. "I am up there all the time catching as many of his games as I can, and I have gained a love for the City of Philly. It could not be a better spot for my family. I'm ready to get to work and could not be more proud to be a Philadelphia Eagle."

Stats

36 games (27 starts)

2,747 Rushing yards

5.2 Yards per carry

31 Rushing touchdowns

602 receiving yards

2 Receiving touchdowns

904 Kick return yards

Accolades

2023: Honorable Mention All-ACC

2022: 1st-Team All-ACC Running Back

2022: 1st-Team All-ACC All-Purpose

2022: 1st-Team All-ACC Specialist

Said Head Coach Nick Sirianni: "We're really excited about Will. Just his ability to make guys miss in space, accelerate off of that, and then also be a threat out of the backfield and also being able to – in the line-up I think he's very versatile in the things that he can do. Not only you can hand him the football. You can throw him the football. He can line up all over the field.

"It will be fun working with a player like him. Obviously I talked a lot about the things on the field because that's what got him in the door, but what's made him a special player is the person that he is, the leader that he is, the worker that he is, and we're really excited to add that type of person to our locker room.

"He's an All-American person, and we're really looking forward to that, and obviously the talent sticks out as well."

Said Director of Player Personnel Alan Wolking: "He's a hard-nosed runner. Will's toughness and tenacity stand out. He's got really underlying athletic traits. You see quickness. You see balance. But really it's finishing runs and the mentality he plays with. The next step is really the versatility to play all four downs. So you get this tough running aspect with a guy who catches the ball well and can play special teams. As the new kick return rule comes into effect, he's a guy that can find an expanded role in this new environment. He went to Clemson right away and made an impact."

Scouting Report

• Slippery athlete with jitterbug quickness. Fluid, smooth mover capable of shaking defenders in the hole.

• Very effective receiver. Ankle-breaking route runner out of the backfield who excelled on Texas routes in the middle of the field underneath.

• Was moved all around the formation and used in a lot of ways as a pass catcher.

• Vision in the open field is impressive. Finds cutback lanes well and sets defenders up for failure in space.

• Three-year starter as a kick returner.

• 2022 finalist for the Paul Hornung Award as the Most Versatile Player in college football.

Key Number

• Only seven running backs drafted since 2015 have run a faster short-shuttle time than Shipley's 4.10 this spring.