Pennsylvania OL steadily improving

Altoona, Pa., offensive guard Sean Shannon was coming off a stellar sophomore season, and was preparing to build on that season, when he went down last summer with a heat stroke. The 6-foot-5, 315 pound athlete is fully recovered now, however, and is beginning the trek to show he has retained all of his skills.

Sean was sidelined last August 11th, but despite being away from the game for a year, he has still received attention. So far this month he has entertained calls from Pitt, Michigan State, and Syracuse. Coaches Freeman and Bray from Pitt have made the biggest impact on him.

Pitt, Michigan State, Syracuse, West Virginia and Duke currently reside at the top of his list of schools, but one is the clear leader. What differentiates these five from the others?

“One school I like the most is Pitt,” he commented. Their coaches treat you more like a person than a player. That draws me into it.

“Last year I had a heat stroke and sat out last season. Michigan State had faith and stuck it out with me. They have an upper hand now and I am better than ever.

“Syracuse is basically the same reason. They have been in contact me since I was a sophomore.

“West Virginia is very close to my home town. The coaches there treat you like a person, and not just an athlete too.

“At Duke, if you get a degree there, you are set up for life.”

Sean has talked to Pitt about an official visit, but hasn’t set a date. He has, however, already attended one Pitt game and is scheduled to watch the Panthers play Notre Dame and Wake Forest, and will also watch a Penn State game. He was not able to go to any camps, due to continued rehabilitation for his heat stroke, but went to Penn State and Pitt last summer.

Sean has yet to receive any offers, but he feels several of his favorites are close. They have all intimated that one will forthcoming after they watch film from his first few games to see if he has, in fact, fully recovered from his heat stroke.

Shannon has put his time off the field to good use, and has excelled in the classroom. His GPA currently sits at 3.5, and he has already scored a 980 on the SAT. He plans to major in either sports medicine or criminology.

So far Sean has helped lead Altoona to a 2-1 record, but said he has not returned to full strength yet after his year-long layoff. He expects to be there soon, though.

“I am making progress every game,” he said. “By game five, I should be back to true form.” Shannon earned all-league, all-county, and all-district honors as a sophomore.