'He's a Power Five player': Future UT back Shaw excelling in senior season
Apr. 20—No one understood how the coronavirus pandemic would affect college football recruiting when the country shut down last spring and campus visits became an impossibility.
Would schools make evaluation mistakes? How would kids make a decision if they couldn't see the campus? Would offers dry up because of the uncertainty?
As it turned out, the 2021 recruiting cycle resembled the previous years: signing day remained a national holiday, Alabama, Ohio State, and Clemson monopolized the best players, and Toledo was once again the class of the Mid-American Conference.
The highest-rated player the Rockets signed, according to Rivals.com, was a consequence of the doubt that swirled over the sport. Three-star running back Willie Shaw had offers from Iowa, Nebraska, Indiana, Illinois, and Virginia, making three visits to Iowa City in 2019. But a flurry of commitments to those major conference schools left him on the outside looking in.
"He's outstanding," CBS Sports recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said. "He can run, catch, and block. He's a good all-around athlete. He's got good speed, great vision. He's a big-time back. I thought he was Big Ten material, so it was a good get for Toledo."
Don't mistake the 5-foot-11, 205-pound Shaw as someone who longs for the glitz of the Big Ten. He readily committed to Toledo last May after narrowing his list to UT, Nebraska, and Illinois. The Chicago native, ranked as the 10th-best prospect in the state of Illinois and No. 21 running back in the country, found a comfortability with running backs coach Nate Cole that he couldn't shake.
The walls of the Larimer Athletic Complex are lined with photos and statistics of Rocket greats such as Kareem Hunt, Chester Taylor, and Wasean Tait, undersized tailbacks who thrived in the Glass Bowl and beyond. Shaw possesses a similar stature and escapability required to join the trio.
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"I felt and knew that Toledo would be the best place to get me prepared for beyond college, whether that's following my dreams and going to the [NFL] or taking another route and starting my own business," Shaw said. "I've built great connections with coaches and teammates, and I feel like we're already one step ahead of every other team."
As a junior in 2019, Shaw, who attends prestigious Brother Rice High School, had 1,281 yards rushing with 14 touchdowns and 19 receptions for 271 yards, earning first-team All-Conference honors and MVP of the Catholic League Blue Division. And Shaw accomplished it all while playing at 85 percent because of a lingering ankle injury.
"He's a Power Five player. Toledo got a steal," Brother Rice coach Brian Badke said. "He's a very good athlete. He's big. He's physical. He can run. He can catch the ball out of the backfield. He can block. He's put on about 15 pounds. He's getting healthy at the right time.
"I think he's definitely going to be prepared, playing in not only one of the top conferences in the state of Illinois, but in the Midwest. He's going to be a guy, in my opinion, that can help contribute right away. He's an explosive player. I think his upside is unbelievable."
The state of Illinois is currently in the midst of a six-game spring season. So while Shaw did not enroll early at UT, he is still playing competitive football. Following hip surgery last winter, Shaw has 306 yards on 19 carries, seven receptions for 59 yards, and five total touchdowns in four games. He had 168 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries against St. Laurence.
"This spring season is getting me in great condition physically and mentally for the next level," Shaw said. "After recovering from the surgery on my hip in December, I was not as confident in myself. But this spring season made me realize who I am and what I am capable of on the field again."
The hope for Shaw and the Rockets is that the momentum continues into September when Toledo kicks off a season with heightened expectations. Shaw will enter a backfield brimming with talent — Bryant Koback (522 yards) and Micah Kelly (208) recorded 72 percent of the team's rushing output in the six-game 2020 season and scored six of eight rushing touchdowns.
Shaw could provide added depth at a position where multiple options is all the rage. And his hands could give whoever wins the quarterback competition another pass-catching option, strengthening an already booming offense.
"My main goal at Toledo is to make the team succeed more by making big-time plays every time I touch the field," Shaw said. "I believe that I can be both a powerhouse and speedy running back. What separates me from others is my ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, lining up as a wide receiver, and being able to have quick instincts to get out of situations. Whether it's at running back or wide receiver, having an impact on the game is something I've done since I started playing football."
First Published April 19, 2021, 2:45pm
