Eagles 4th-Round Draft Pick RB Will Shipley

Q. Congratulations on being picked. You said you’re feeling a lot better now. Did you expect to get picked a little bit higher? Also, what do you know about the Eagles? How much draft interaction, pre-draft interaction did you have with them? (Ed Kracz)

WILL SHIPLEY: Yeah, I think throughout the whole process I was pretty much being told that I was between a third to fifth rounder, so I was right there in the fourth round, kind of expected just depending on how the running backs got off the board.

But still just waiting around and seeing all the guys go before you, you want get your name called. I was very eager. You know, when the Eagles called or when the call came from Philadelphia, I could not have been more ecstatic. My brother plays Lacrosse at UPenn in Philadelphia. I’m up there all the time catching as many of his games as I can.

I’ve gained a love for the city of Philly. Could not be a better spot for my family and I. During the pre-draft process had great meetings with Coach Singleton at the combine and was able to do a private workout with him at Clemson.

We were able to go over some of my film and do on-the-field work and get to know each other a little better than the quick 15 minutes at the combine.

Yeah, I’m so blessed. Ready to get to work. Could not be more proud to be a Philadelphia Eagle.

Q. Congratulations, man. Welcome to Philly. I know you have a reputation of being well-rounded. Got receiving ability, some of that lacrosse background. How much did that help you when it came to the footwork and things like that? (John McMullen)

WILL SHIPLEY: Yes, sir, yeah, definitely a big deal. When I was a kid growing yeah, there was no specialization in athletics for the Shipley family. We really did everything we could. Basketball, ran track, played lacrosse, football, and I think just doing all of those things have played a big part in my success on the football field.

Like you said just being well-rounded, being able to do a lot of different things in a great way.

Q. I wanted to ask you, the Eagles running back room obviously consists of RB Saquon Barkley and RB Kenneth Gainwell. How do you see your role with the Eagles, and your thoughts on Barkley? I don’t know if he was a guy you watched or anything like that growing up. (Martin Frank)

WILL SHIPLEY: Oh, heck yeah. When he [RB Saquon Barkley] was at Penn State and his years on the Giants to being in Philadelphia now, I’m a huge Saquon fan. He reached out to me pretty quickly after I got drafted, just a couple minutes, so I’m so excited to just share a backfield with all those guys.

You know, I know that I’m going go in and work my butt off and do whatever the team needs me to do to be successful. Whatever that takes is what I’m willing to do. So could not be happier to learn from someone like Saquon and share a backfield with all the great backs we have.

Q. Can you just walk us through the injury that happened in the bowl game and where do you stand? I know you were able to participate in the pro day and did very well there. Where are you in terms of where the knee is? (Jeff McLane)

WILL SHIPLEY: Yes, sir, yeah, I’m fully cleared, 110% on go. Ever since my pro day I’ve been getting after it back here in Charlotte and any private workouts like the one I had with Coach [Running Backs Coach Jemal] Singleton.

Yeah, I feel great. Healthier than ever and ready to get after it. It was just a fibular dislocation in the bowl game. No structural damage, no surgery. Just had a straight-leg brace for a couple weeks and got right back after it.

Everything has gone according to God’s plan and couldn’t thank him enough for healing me and getting me back to full health.

Q. You mentioned RB Saquon Barkley already reached out. How did he do that? What were his messages to you? Do you have a plan for exactly how you’ll pick his brain when you get in the room with him? (Dave Zangaro)

WILL SHIPLEY: Yeah, great questions, and I appreciate you. He [RB Saquon Barkley] reached out just over my draft day phone, I’m sure he got the number from the Eagles. Just shot me a text and said, congratulations. Get ready to work.

So I’m ready to get after it. Yeah, that’s going to be one of the biggest things for me, is to go on and just try and get as much knowledge from him as he’s willing to give.

And I understand he’s one of the best to do it in this league, so to have that opportunity to learn from someone like that is something I don’t take lightly.

You know, going to try to get as much out of it as I can, that’s for sure.

Q. I know you’ve been a kick returner in the past as well. What’s been your approach to when it comes to the kick return? What do you bring to that element of the game, and how do you think it’ll relate to the new return rules? (Chris Franklin)

WILL SHIPLEY: Yeah, it’s something I was able to do at Clemson all three years I was there. It was great for me. Any opportunity to get the ball in space and make the move, bring it into the end zone, is an opportunity I love.

That’s exactly what kick returns do, especially with the new rule changes in the NFL. I’m pumped to step into that role if that’s what they want me to do.

Like I said, I’m going in there and I’m going to work my butt off and do what I’m told so that I can just continue to gain the respect of my teammates and my coaches.

Q. What was the process like for deciding to come out this year? (Zach Berman)

WILL SHIPLEY: Yeah, it was definitely a tough process. Clemson University is a great place. [Clemson Head] Coach [Dabo] Swinney is second to none. He’s the best to do it. He cares so much about his players.

Had a fourth year, but ultimately graduated in December and had the option to move on. This has been my lifelong dream. It’s what I want to do. God gave me the opportunity. He made it very clear to me what his path for me was.

You know, that’s ultimately what led to my decision to move on and go chase this new dream.

Q. Just to follow up, you said it was a lot of I guess waiting around to hear your name called. How did you spend the last two and a half days? A lot of pacing? Were you around family? Glued to the TV? (Ed Kracz)

WILL SHIPLEY: No, that’s also a great question. I’ll tell you Friday was kind of all over the place just going to see some high school coaches and different people that I would love to see before I head out of here.

Then yesterday I watched it pretty intently. Didn’t get my name called which had me going to bed not even angry, just frustrated. When you’re a competitor you want to see yourself go as early as possible in anything you do. Be first.

I’m so glad it turned out the way it did though. I could not ask for anything else than to be a Philadelphia Eagle and go contend for a Super Bowl with one of the best cultures that I’ve seen in the NFL.

Yeah, it’s going to be exciting.