“Somebody that goes out there and lifts everyone up around them. “You know when you see it and when you don’t,” Shipley answered when asked what an alpha-leader looks like. I’m fully aware of what it takes to be that guy and I think if I step up and take that, other guys will follow.” I want to be that guy, and that’s me being ultra-competitive. I’m the biggest culprit of that and I have to make plays. We don’t have that alpha guy that has stepped up and made those plays. “I can’t really put a name on who is the alpha right now, but that’s part of the problem I think. “If I can step up and take that role, then that’s awesome,” Shipley said.
Shipley feels that one of the problems with the offense so far this season is that no one has really stepped up into that alpha-leader role, something that he believes he can step into. We have leaders on this offense, but I think it’s about having that alpha-leader that everyone kind of looks up too.” "DJ (Uiagalelei) does a great job of leading this team and offense. I’m doing everything in my power to lead. “I’m 100 percent ready to step up and take that role and I think leadership isn’t really something you have to force, it comes naturally and something I naturally have. “100 percent I feel comfortable being in that role, I think that’s what God put me on this earth to do,” Shipley said on Monday. With the Clemson offense struggling this year, Tigers running back Will Shipley has taken it upon himself to emerge in that role as a leader along the offense and use his voice to boost the morale of the team. It took those players a few years to develop their voices as leaders though. Trevor Lawrence were all top recruits in their classes who saw the field early for the Tigers. Shipley said his blood boils at the drop in the Pitt game and he's committed to being a playmaker and leader.Ĭlemson is not shy to bring in highly-recruited freshmen who get on the field right away.