Notre Dame Football: Early look at top 3 targets in 2021 recruiting class

Will Shipley, RB (North Carolina)

If there’s one player that Irish fans should be excited about for the 2021 recruiting class, it’s running back Will Shipley. Coming in at 5-foot-11, 200 pounds, Shipley currently sits as the No. 1 ranked player at his position for the 2021 season.

While a commitment to Notre Dame is far from a given, Shipley has offered some glowing remarks in regard to the campus and running backs coach Lance Taylor. Shipley currently holds offers from 25 schools across the country, but those from Notre Dame and Clemson seem to hold the most weight as it stands right now.

In terms of what Shipley provides as a player, his tape speaks for itself. Shipley’s speed is a staple to his game, so much so that it takes very little room for him to hit the hole and take it to the house. The majority of Shipley’s runs came in shotgun formation as he clearly displayed a confidence in taking the ball to the outside.

Shipley also displayed a propensity for success in the receiving game, scoring out of the backfield, the slot, and even sometimes all the way outside. The Irish have been in desperate need of an all around back for quite some time now, and there’s a good chance that Shipley provides that for them. Of course, that starts with making sure his college career goes through South Bend.