What are the Ducks getting in Jake Shipley?

Recruiting / Friday, June 14th, 2019

With the temperature rising in the Pacific Northwest this time of year, so is the activity on the recruiting trail for the Oregon football program in the month of June.

Despite being barely halfway over, the Ducks have landed a quarter of their recruiting class in the last two weeks following verbal commitments from three-star prospects Faaope Laloulu, Jared “JJ” Greenfield, and Trey Benson.

On Friday, that fraction moved from a quarter to a third, as Indio (Calif.) Shadow Hills three-star defensive lineman Jake Shipley announced his commitment to Oregon, giving the Ducks their second verbal pledge of the day on the heels of Benson’s announcement.

With his commitment, Shipley serves as the first defensive lineman to commit to Oregon’s 2020 recruiting class, which currently ranks 13th nationally according to 247Sports’ Composite Team Rankings.

Ranked as the nation’s 56th-best strongside defensive end, Shipley commits to the Ducks after securing offers from programs such as Nebraska, UCLA, Washington, and Arizona State during the recruiting process.

Below we take a closer look at Shipley’s game, examining his weaknesses and strengths, as well as projecting how he may make an impact for the Ducks when he ultimately arrives on campus.

Notable weaknesses:

  • Good, but not great athlete: There’s a lot to like about Shipley on tape, and easy to see why he garnered the attention he did prior to his commitment to Oregon. But much of that doesn’t necessarily have to do with jaw-dropping athletic gifts. Shipley is a good athlete who should see his tools sharpen with time, but he’s not a player who’s physical traits bowl you over on the hoof.
  • Needs to continue filling out frame: Listed at 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, Shipley certainly has a great foundation to be a future contributor for the Ducks at defensive end. However, his frame still needs some work. With his best football still ahead of him, look for him to truly start rounding into form after a year or two in Oregon’s SEC-style strength and conditioning program.

Notable strengths:

  • Good length: Despite not possessing the flashiest athletic tools, one thing Shipley does have going for him is solid length. He’s great at using his long arms to create leverage and shed blockers before making plays on ball carriers.
  • Plays with power and tenacity: One of Shipley’s most impressive traits is his ability to play with terrific power at the point of attack. Shipley is a tenacious player who plays with a violent streak, and he can be a handful for opposing linemen due to his unrelenting style of play.
  • Disruptive defender: Watching Shipley on film, you get the sense that he truly enjoys wreaking havoc at and behind the line of scrimmage. Whether he’s harassing quarterbacks, chasing down ball carriers, or batting down passes, Shipley seems to make it his life’s mission to be a disruptive force at every turn.

Overall outlook:

After signing five defensive linemen in the 2019 class, the Ducks figure to be a little more selective with who they choose to bring on board for their 2020 recruiting class. And while Shipley may not be the highest-rated defensive lineman that Oregon has offered this cycle, he’s a player with considerable upside who should greatly benefit under the tutelage of Ducks defensive line coach Joe Salave’a. With the Ducks set to lose Gus Cumberlander, Gary Baker, and Drayton Carlberg at season’s end, there could be an opportunity for Shipley to make an early mark next season as a true freshman. The more likely – and perhaps best case – scenario, however, is that Shipley takes advantage of his redshirt season by using it to continue to improve his frame and hone his technique before being turned loose in 2021.

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