Behind the Scenes: How South Carolina landed Eric Shaw
In early 2019, Notasulga (Ala.) Reeltown tight end Eric Shaw emerged as one of the top prospects in his state. Even though he missed the end of his junior season due to a torn ACL, the film spoke for itself, and offers started rolling in.
Over a dozen schools offered in January, and one of those was South Carolina. Shaw has committed to the Gamecocks over Auburn and Tennessee.
Some may be surprised by this, with Auburn being just 30 minutes down the road, but Will Muschamp and his program pushed all the right buttons.
Shaw tells the story behind his commitment.
THE BEGINNING
"South Carolina was the ninth school to offer me and they offered me in January," said Shaw. "I remember coach Bobby Bentley coming to the school in January, and that is when it all started with South Carolina.
"I was not getting any mail or anything, but then they offered and that got it going. South Carolina has been very consistent with communication since they offered. It never slowed down and that showed me a lot.
"I knew a little about their football program growing up, but I did not know much. I had seen them on TV, but that was about it. As soon as they really started to recruit me, I really started to look into them and learn about the school.
"A lot of schools were offering me to play defense or as an athlete, but South Carolina offered me as a tight end. They were the first school to offer me on offense. It started with them early in the year."
THE TURN
"I went up there with my coach for the first time in April and that is really when it got going for me and South Carolina. I had a great time on the visit, I like what they did with the tight end and that visit had them high on my list.
"The more I learned about their offense, the more I talked to coach Bentley, and the more I thought about my recruitment, South Carolina stood out.
"Really, since I left that visit, they have been one of my top schools. I met some players, I spent time with the coaches, I saw the facilities and I really started liking South Carolina.
"That never changed. They have been one of my top schools since. I was liking LSU then, I liked Auburn and Tennessee too, and some other schools were on my mind, but that first visit had them as a leader for me.
"That visit in the spring opened my eyes a lot about South Carolina."
THE FINALE
"I feel so comfortable with coach Bentley and coach Muschamp. I just feel at home at South Carolina. As soon as I was heading back home from my official visit there in June, I told my mom that South Carolina could be the school for me.
"I was feeling it then, and I kind of knew that was where I was going a month or two ago. I did think a lot about Auburn and I had great visits to Florida and Tennessee over the summer, but South Carolina was always up there.
"The more I thought about it, it just felt like a no brainer for me. I just kept thinking about how I felt at home there. I know Auburn is closer to home, but I have never felt as comfortable at any other place like I did at South Carolina.
"The feel, the fit, the coaches — it all made South Carolina the right fit for me.
"I have known of my decision for a little while and I let coach Bentley and coach Muschamp know about it Tuesday. We were all excited."