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Shaw embraces move to offense
By Joe Scalzo
YOUNGSTOWN
Whenever YSU coach Eric Wolford watched Will Shaw this summer, either in person or on film, he saw a big (6-foot-3, 240 pounds), fast (4.6 40-yard dash), athletic, physical linebacker with a passion for football.
He also saw a player who wasn’t good enough to make the two-deep depth chart — and there wasn’t much Shaw could do to change that.
“On defense, you’re either a reactor or not,” Wolford said. “What I mean by that is, when this guy goes here, you can react to it and it’s instantaneous for you. And some guys aren’t that way.
“That’s why some guys play offense.”
So, two weeks ago, Wolford called Shaw into his office and told him the coaches wanted him to switch to tight end. Shaw hadn’t played offense since high school and admitted he needed some convincing.
“I was definitely hesitant at first,” he said. “It was going to be a big change but they talked me through it, explained to me what was going on and just started working with me to catch up on the offensive system and the plays.”
How long did it take to embrace the change?
“It probably took me until after the first practice,” Shaw said, “when I realized I could actually do it.”
Switching positions isn’t new. Since training camp began, more than a half-dozen players have flipped from offense to defense, or vice-versa. The difference is, most of them are freshman. (Center Zach Conlan, for instance, learned he was switching from the defensive line to the offensive line when he opened up his locker a few weeks ago and saw a red jersey).
Shaw, on the other hand, started eight games at safety last fall, then got switched to linebacker in the offseason. But he missed most of the spring with a hamstring injury and didn’t show the coaches what they wanted to see this summer.
“You can spin your wheels forever,” Wolford said. “We made the move and he trusted the fact that we, as a staff, are going to do what’s best for the program.
“He went over and Day 1, he had instant success.”
Shaw had just one interception last fall but said he’s a better receiver than blocker right now. (“But I’m not bad at blocking.”) And his experience at linebacker and safety has helped him on offense.
“I know how the defense is going to react,” he said. “If I’m blocking, I know how they’re going to position themselves. And I know when I run a route how they’re going to react when I do something. Those things give me an advantage.”
Shaw is listed as the third-string tight end right now, a spot he shares with redshirt freshman Nate Adams, but Wolford believes, in time, he can give the offense a different dimension.
“You don’t often get tight ends that can run a legit 4.6 down the field,” Wolford said. “He’s strong, he’s physical, football’s important to him and he’s gonna be around here for two years.
“He’s got a bright future at the position.”
Of course, that doesn’t mean Shaw won’t miss playing defense.
“I’ve always played defense, so of course I’ll miss it,” he said. “But I’ve definitely embraced offense and I’m excited about playing it now.”