A former Clemson star could be a quiet yet big pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Running back Will Shipley’s resume as a Tiger is a long one. The N.C. native finished his three seasons with 526 carries for 2,747 yards and 31 touchdowns.

That earned him countless honors around the country but it didn’t turn into a lot of draft hype. Shipley’s 2024 season ending in injury didn’t help his case but his Pro Day did.

ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg saw his absurd day and named him a sleeper in this draft class. In their big board, he’s ranked the No. 12 running back and No. 172 overall prospect.

Shipley was a bright spot for Clemson’s offense during a stretch where the unit struggled to find consistent production. He contributed as a runner, a receiver and on returns, where he piled up 904 yards on kickoff runbacks. Shipley had 15 rushing touchdowns in 2022 and became the first ACC player to earn all-league honors at three different positions in the same season. He had 69 receptions in his final two seasons at Clemson.

Coach’s take: “Very versatile, tough, he can do a lot of things,” an ACC coach said. “He’s a three-down back.” Added an ACC defensive coordinator: “Shipley has special teams return value, but he has elite ball skills. He could be a guy that could catch 40, 50 balls in his rookie years and have production. That’s where he stands out.”

Turning in a 4.39 40-yard dash was the mic drop Shipley may have needed in the midst of an impressive overall performance in front of NFL scouts from every franchise. The numbers don’t lie for Shipley, and that’s why he could be a safe pick late in this class.