ToughJ.Riggins
Hall of Famer
I found an interveiw with Tim Shaw about how he was forced to switch from HB to OLB despite being Michigan's alltime leading rusher in H.S. Paterno apparantly favoured Tony Hunt and his 4.68 speed. Shaw ran a 4.44 and won the entire state of Michigan's 100 meter for his state grouping in highschool but was made to beef up. His 40 time and vert was less at the combine than in H.S. This is probably due to beefing up to play LB. He ran a 4.51 at the combine.
Attended Clarenceville (Livonia, Mich.) High School, playing football for head coach Greg Hudkins...Lettered in football, basketball and track during his career, earning 11 varsity letters...Named the 2001 Michigan
Gatorade Player of the Year, adding Associated Press All-State first-team honors...Was also chosen to the Detroit Free Press' All-West Michigan squad as a senior...Was a standout running back and linebacker, leading the team to a 47-6 record during his career, including a 12-1 mark as a junior and a 13-1 record his final campaign...Exploded for 43 touchdowns and over 2,000 yards rushing as a senior, as he also amassed 95 tackles with four interceptions and 10 quarterback sacks... In track, Shaw won the state title in the 100-meter dash during his senior year...Graduated with a 3.8 grade point average.
Tim Shaw, LB
Penn State
6-1 3/8, 236
Will work out at the combine
Agent - Scott Smith
Q - Does it bother you that in Michigan in high school you were the state's all time leading
rusher and scorer and here you are a linebacker.
It doesn't bother me at all (but) it does bother me that I didn't score a single touchdown in
college, you know, defensively or whatever. That bugs me. The journey has been fun. I've
learned so much and this is definitely where I belong on defensive side.
Q - During your college career you were switched quite a few times from running back to
linebacker and in your senior year, to defensive end. What do you think of that.
The switch from running back to linebacker was tough because I thought I was a running back,
you know the best guy at that spot. That was just something that I needed to deal with and
grow up on, so I did that. Then going from linebacker to defensive end was tough in that I
had to put my personal goals aside, things I had set for my senior year, for the better of
the team. ... So that was tough, I was learning the whole year. If I had stayed at linebacker,
I knew everything, I was very comfortable and I would have been just able to play and not think so much.
Q - That you made that sacrifice should play well with the NFL people.
Well, I hope so. That's what I'm hoping that they see, the sacrifice I made. ... (but) the
big thing I want them to see is that I haven't played my best football yet because of
the circumstances, switching positions and things like that.
Q - Why didn't you stay at running back.
Someone made a decision. I could have played running back for sure. I was doing
well but they brought in three high big time recruits at running back.
Aside -- Those three running back recruits included Tony Hunt
Q - Folks at home surprised you didn't remain a RB.
They wish I could have kept scoring touchdowns, but that's all right.
The exceptionally prepared Rick G. points out that Shaw was the state 100-meter
dash champ back in Michigan, in the third of four school size divsions as it turns out.
Q - How did playing with the always good Penn State defense prepare you for the NFL.
I really learned at Penn State how to play defense and what kind of attitude you need and
Tom Bradley definitely instilled that attitude in us. And being surrounded with great defensive
players my whole career ... showed me what kind of players it takes. And I think that I've excelled at that level.
Q - About playing at Linebacker U., is that a media creation or is it something you guys
take seriously to uphold a tradition.
It's a tradition we want to carry on. ...We want to uphold that tradition, it is a great tradition.
It's something we're proud of and I'm proud any time someone says you made LBU proud.
That makes me feel good about how I've been working and the things I've been trying to achieve.
Q - Asked about what teams he has talked to.
Shaw said he talked to about 10 LB coaches but didn't specify any teams.
Q - With your preparation coming into the combine, are you confident.
Very confident. Just all the training we did, I was down at Tom Shaw's and I feel just
ready, excited and my body feels good. So I'm just looking forward to Monday when
we get to run. Mentally, I'm confident with each drill. I know the time I can run.
I know the stuff I need to do.
Q - What do you expect to run.
If I don't run faster than 4.5, I'll be disappointed.
Q - Previous best.
4.4 flat.
Q - Because of your speed, contributing on special teams will be important in making a team.
Does that come up a lot.
Yeah, it comes up a lot and I think it's very important. At Penn State, I've had tons and
tons of special teams experience, even in my senior year I was playing on punt and punt
returns. I have that experience and I think they see I'm the kind of guy who's willing
to whatever to be on the field.
Q - Do you think your 40 time was what you most improved on coming into the combine.
No, I think I (got) just a little bit better at that. I've always been a speed guy, I ran track
in high school. That was something I improved a little bit on. The thing I improved on most
was footwork and doing linebacker drills, dropping and changing direction.
Q - How would describe Paterno.
He was a fiery, crazy old guy but he loves the game, still passionate. People just look
at him as this legend, this icon. So to be with him on a daily basis, you tend to take all
that for granted but he has that legend, he has that status at Penn State and even throughout
the country. So playing for him really was something special. You would have thought he
would be done by now but he's still ticking.
Q - Do you prefer inside or outside linebacker
Shaw said he was comfortable with both.
Q - Asked about playing for Detroit since he's a Michigan guy.
Everybody from my hometown doesn't want me to play for the Lions because they don't
want me to go through that. But I wouldn't mind playing for them. I don't like to pick.
***Shaw is ranked as the 6th best prospect at OLB in this draft by NFLdraftscout.com...It leads me to wonder though if he could have been another Brian Leonard. And speaking of Rutgers I'm wondering if RB Joe Martinek will suffer the same fate as Shaw did at Penn State. Rutgers is a top 25 team now and has to find RB's with "Hip wiggle" which apparently doesn't count NJs alltime leading rusher with 4.4 speed and dazling moves because he is meloninly challenged.
Edited by: ToughJ.Riggins
Attended Clarenceville (Livonia, Mich.) High School, playing football for head coach Greg Hudkins...Lettered in football, basketball and track during his career, earning 11 varsity letters...Named the 2001 Michigan
Gatorade Player of the Year, adding Associated Press All-State first-team honors...Was also chosen to the Detroit Free Press' All-West Michigan squad as a senior...Was a standout running back and linebacker, leading the team to a 47-6 record during his career, including a 12-1 mark as a junior and a 13-1 record his final campaign...Exploded for 43 touchdowns and over 2,000 yards rushing as a senior, as he also amassed 95 tackles with four interceptions and 10 quarterback sacks... In track, Shaw won the state title in the 100-meter dash during his senior year...Graduated with a 3.8 grade point average.
Tim Shaw, LB
Penn State
6-1 3/8, 236
Will work out at the combine
Agent - Scott Smith
Q - Does it bother you that in Michigan in high school you were the state's all time leading
rusher and scorer and here you are a linebacker.
It doesn't bother me at all (but) it does bother me that I didn't score a single touchdown in
college, you know, defensively or whatever. That bugs me. The journey has been fun. I've
learned so much and this is definitely where I belong on defensive side.
Q - During your college career you were switched quite a few times from running back to
linebacker and in your senior year, to defensive end. What do you think of that.
The switch from running back to linebacker was tough because I thought I was a running back,
you know the best guy at that spot. That was just something that I needed to deal with and
grow up on, so I did that. Then going from linebacker to defensive end was tough in that I
had to put my personal goals aside, things I had set for my senior year, for the better of
the team. ... So that was tough, I was learning the whole year. If I had stayed at linebacker,
I knew everything, I was very comfortable and I would have been just able to play and not think so much.
Q - That you made that sacrifice should play well with the NFL people.
Well, I hope so. That's what I'm hoping that they see, the sacrifice I made. ... (but) the
big thing I want them to see is that I haven't played my best football yet because of
the circumstances, switching positions and things like that.
Q - Why didn't you stay at running back.
Someone made a decision. I could have played running back for sure. I was doing
well but they brought in three high big time recruits at running back.
Aside -- Those three running back recruits included Tony Hunt
Q - Folks at home surprised you didn't remain a RB.
They wish I could have kept scoring touchdowns, but that's all right.
The exceptionally prepared Rick G. points out that Shaw was the state 100-meter
dash champ back in Michigan, in the third of four school size divsions as it turns out.
Q - How did playing with the always good Penn State defense prepare you for the NFL.
I really learned at Penn State how to play defense and what kind of attitude you need and
Tom Bradley definitely instilled that attitude in us. And being surrounded with great defensive
players my whole career ... showed me what kind of players it takes. And I think that I've excelled at that level.
Q - About playing at Linebacker U., is that a media creation or is it something you guys
take seriously to uphold a tradition.
It's a tradition we want to carry on. ...We want to uphold that tradition, it is a great tradition.
It's something we're proud of and I'm proud any time someone says you made LBU proud.
That makes me feel good about how I've been working and the things I've been trying to achieve.
Q - Asked about what teams he has talked to.
Shaw said he talked to about 10 LB coaches but didn't specify any teams.
Q - With your preparation coming into the combine, are you confident.
Very confident. Just all the training we did, I was down at Tom Shaw's and I feel just
ready, excited and my body feels good. So I'm just looking forward to Monday when
we get to run. Mentally, I'm confident with each drill. I know the time I can run.
I know the stuff I need to do.
Q - What do you expect to run.
If I don't run faster than 4.5, I'll be disappointed.
Q - Previous best.
4.4 flat.
Q - Because of your speed, contributing on special teams will be important in making a team.
Does that come up a lot.
Yeah, it comes up a lot and I think it's very important. At Penn State, I've had tons and
tons of special teams experience, even in my senior year I was playing on punt and punt
returns. I have that experience and I think they see I'm the kind of guy who's willing
to whatever to be on the field.
Q - Do you think your 40 time was what you most improved on coming into the combine.
No, I think I (got) just a little bit better at that. I've always been a speed guy, I ran track
in high school. That was something I improved a little bit on. The thing I improved on most
was footwork and doing linebacker drills, dropping and changing direction.
Q - How would describe Paterno.
He was a fiery, crazy old guy but he loves the game, still passionate. People just look
at him as this legend, this icon. So to be with him on a daily basis, you tend to take all
that for granted but he has that legend, he has that status at Penn State and even throughout
the country. So playing for him really was something special. You would have thought he
would be done by now but he's still ticking.
Q - Do you prefer inside or outside linebacker
Shaw said he was comfortable with both.
Q - Asked about playing for Detroit since he's a Michigan guy.
Everybody from my hometown doesn't want me to play for the Lions because they don't
want me to go through that. But I wouldn't mind playing for them. I don't like to pick.
***Shaw is ranked as the 6th best prospect at OLB in this draft by NFLdraftscout.com...It leads me to wonder though if he could have been another Brian Leonard. And speaking of Rutgers I'm wondering if RB Joe Martinek will suffer the same fate as Shaw did at Penn State. Rutgers is a top 25 team now and has to find RB's with "Hip wiggle" which apparently doesn't count NJs alltime leading rusher with 4.4 speed and dazling moves because he is meloninly challenged.
Edited by: ToughJ.Riggins
