Eagles Humble Superstar Saquon Barkley Admits He’s Not the Smartest Guy in the Room originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Everyone knows how good Saquon Barkley has been since he arrived with the Philadelphia Eagles last season.

Few know about his immediate backup. … and the superstar rushing champ — maybe the best player in the NFL — seems intent on changing that.

Will Shipley was considered an afterthought when the Eagles took him in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. The Clemson Tigers product saw limited action during his rookie campaign, recording 34 touches during the regular season.

However, after an offseason that saw the organization say goodbye to Kenneth Gainwell, Shipley’s time as an afterthought just might be over. He is the No. 2 guy behind the All-Pro in Barkley.

“I don’t think ‘maybe’ (he can succeed) … I think he definitely can,” Barkley said on Wednesday when asked if Shipley was prepared to replace Gainwell. “He’s a really good back. Great hands, great feet, can run routes.”

One of the calling cards for Shipley coming out of Clemson was his ability as an all-around receiving back. He recorded over 3,000 yards from scrimmage in three years with the Tigers.

What stands out most from the second-year runner, though, is his IQ.

“Smart, he always was smart,” Barkley said. “I hate to say this, but he’s probably the smartest back in the room. It kinda pisses me off how smart he is.”

Philadelphia might wish to avoid putting Barkley through the kind of bell-cow season they did last year. The NFL Offensive Player of the Year recorded close to 500 touches in 2024, including the playoffs. That makes Shipley’s importance to the team worth noting.

If Shipley can produce at a solid level, the Eagles can form a running back room in which everyone can contribute … from maybe the best player in the NFL to maybe the smartest guy in the room.

Related: Eagles’ Legend Defends Jalen Hurts From Critics

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.