Shipley Had to Fight ‘Inner Demon’ After Learning He Wouldn’t Start
By: Gavin Oliver November 15, 2023

Last Saturday, for the first time since his freshman campaign, Will Shipley did not start a game for Clemson.

With the junior running back returning from injury after missing the previous week’s game vs. Notre Dame, and Phil Mafah coming off a career performance in that contest, it was Mafah who ran out first at running back for the Tigers in their eventual 42-21 victory over Georgia Tech.

Shipley’s intense nature and competitive fire when it comes to football are no secret, and he admitted during his press conference Tuesday that he had to control his “inner demon” after finding out from running backs coach C.J. Spiller before the Georgia Tech game that Mafah would be the starter.

However, if there’s a positive for Shipley that’s come from being sidelined for the Notre Dame game and then not starting against Georgia Tech, it’s that he’s been able to gain perspective through it all.

“I was talking with Coach Spiller last night, just in terms of using the past two weeks and the rest of the season as a learning opportunity for me,” Shipley said. “I haven’t not started a game since NC State my freshman year, right. So for Coach Spiller to call Phil and I in and say Phil’s the guy going out for Georgia Tech, and me having to kind of fight that inner demon, like, ‘I want to be out there first.’

“But also understanding that this is such an opportunity for me to grow, and for the future experiences that I do have, just to be able to use this opportunity and to cheer Phil on and to just be side by side with him, with Coach Spiller, and just help this offense in any way I can, help this team win in any way that I can as well.”

The Georgia Tech game turned out well for both Shipley and Mafah, as they were highly productive while each totaling more than 100 yards from scrimmage.

Shipley found the end zone as well on a 32-yard touchdown run, becoming the eighth player in Clemson history to rush for 30 career touchdowns.

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