Recruiting Report: Shawn Shipman Jr. (Champlin Park-2021)
There’s nothing quite like Friday night lights. The atmosphere, the pressure, and the innocence of teenagers playing the world’s greatest sport make it an un-copyable and genuinely pure experience for spectators and participants alike. The in-person enjoyment of high school…
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Continue ReadingThere’s nothing quite like Friday night lights. The atmosphere, the pressure, and the innocence of teenagers playing the world’s greatest sport make it an un-copyable and genuinely pure experience for spectators and participants alike. The in-person enjoyment of high school football is also critically important for scouting and recruiting players, and played a major role in my excitement for Northstar Football News‘ newest featured recruit: Shawn Shipman Jr. Champlin Park’s RB1 is just coming off a junior year in which he helped lead the Rebels to a 6A state championship appearance and totaled 1,050 yards off 215 attempts plus 11 TDs in Minnesota’s toughest conference: the Metro. The 5’11, 190 lb. do-it-all tailback for CP impressed me multiple times over the 2019 season as a back who could run through you, around you, catch the ball, and block behind a somewhat undersized OL against some great competition. I watched him ball against Totino-Grace in the regular season, and against Lakeville North and Wayzata in the state semifinals and championship, respectively. Each game he made some critical and athletic plays for CP to consistently keep the chains moving for the Rebels. I apparently wasn’t the only one to notice, as Shipman Jr. visited NDSU’s and the U of M’s campus’ and has been in contact with the KState coaching staff that includes some sweet twitter graphics. Check out what the class of ’21 RB had to say about the Rebels ’19 run, what to expect in 2020, and his recruitment status. Enjoy! Junior Year Hudl
Kansas State recruiting graphic.NFN: Hello and thank you for your time, Shawn! Please start by sharing with our readers a little bit about yourself. Where are you from? What are some fun facts about you? And what do you love about football?
Shipman Jr.: “I’m a fun person to get along with I love to hangout with friends and family and I’m really competitive and passionate. I from Minnesota I started football in 3rd grade. I love football because it teaches you a lot of lessons it’s very competitive and there’s nothing like playing for your brother next to you and knowing he’s got your back, and all of the long practices training and running is all worth it when you win at the end. I’m 5’11, 190 lbs., bench 235 pounds and squat 345. Last year I had 215 attempts for 1,050 yards and 11 TDs with 11 receptions for 90 yards.”
NFN: Nice. So how was your sophomore season in 2018? What were the expectations coming into 2019 and what are some of your keys to being a successful back?
Shipman Jr.: “2018 season was a pretty decent season but we lost a lot of seniors, and in 2019 we knew we pretty much had new team not many returning starters and we just all got really close in the offseason and worked together (because) we knew we needed to have that dog mentality.
Shipman.I love that this program is so close and that everybody does their part. My key to being a successful back is knowing my assignment, communicating with the offense, and reading blocks and knowing when to set up a defender wether is cutting spinning or jumping or running through someone.”
NFN: Now walk us through the 2019 season in your own words. What were some big regular season games? And share what you feel like about the playoffs and state championship game as well.
Shipman Jr.: “We started off well (in 2019) we beat East Ridge for the first game, then we played Blaine & I rushed for 225 and a TD and that’s kind of the game that sparked this offense. But then we lost to Centennial by 1 point and that really brought this team close and we agreed that we’re either all in or out, it’s go big or go home and that was our mentality the rest of the season.
Shipman.I rushed for 190 vs Osseo and the win, and then we played Anoka and I rushed for 206 with the blowout. We made it the the playoffs and the first game off the playoffs I had an high ankle sprain and I sat out a game and then beat Rosemount for the second time and then we made it to the bank where we beat Lakeville North and I scored. However, I wasn’t completely 100% when we made it to the state championship vs. Wayzata and it was a great game we were leading going into halftime and I had 2 tds and they pulled it away from us in the 4th quarter. Unfortunately it was lesson learned and that game is fueling us to come back next season even stronger.”
NFN: No doubt. So what’s going on with your recruitment? What level do you want to play at and who have you been in contact with? Also, what are you looking for in a college program?
Shipman Jr.: “Yeah, so I’ve only considered playing D1 football because I set my expectations as high as possible and I believe anyone can go to any school they want to it just comes down to your work ethic and desire to be great. I’ve been in contact with UNI, UND, SDSU, USD and the other schools you mentioned and planning some junior day visits with these colleges. What I look for in a college is somewhere that makes me feel welcomed and feels like home and being surrounded by people that I know will support me with anything.”
Stay tuned for any more recruitment news for the 2021 back as he nears what’s sure to be a big 2020 season.