Connor Shaw is back: Gamecock great outlines new role with USC
“So I’d like to introduce somebody who needs absolutely no introduction.”
With those words from Will Muschamp, Connor Shaw was officially back.
The former South Carolina quarterback star made his public debut as USC’s new director of player development on Wednesday, replacing another Gamecock great, Marcus Lattimore, who is leaving to study psychology in Europe, Muschamp said.
“I’m really excited to be back. I’m thankful to coach Muschamp, I’m thankful to coach (Ray) Tanner for offering me a chance to return to my alma mater,” Shaw said in his opening statement. “And it was kind of confirmed this past Sunday night in our first team meeting how much I really missed this type of environment, coach going through the goals and expectations, seeing guys take down notes, getting ready to work and compete. So I can’t wait to be a part of their journey. But as excited as I am, this is not about me.”
In his new role, Shaw will continue Lattimore’s work from the past two years heading the Beyond Football program, mentoring players and helping them develop life skills.
“Every guy in that locker room chose the University of South Carolina, because they believed that they would be developed into outstanding football players, earn a great education and leave here as mature, respectable men,” Shaw said. “So when I look at my role; career building, mental health, life skills, mentorship, you know, it certainly resonates with me.”
Shaw added that he hopes to be at South Carolina “for a very, very long time.”
For now, he has to go to work simply building up relationships with players, a process he said he saw the importance of by observing Lattimore.
“Step one is for me to just get to know them, understand who they are, where they’re from, what they’re studying, what are their passions and hobbies, so we can feed that. The more I get to know them and more I get to understand the dynamic of the locker room and (be) that kind of that mediator between the coaching staff, someone they can trust. That’s a position that I don’t take lightly, I take very seriously, and look forward to developing those relationships,” Shaw said.
For Muschamp, being able to replace one USC legend with important. Former players with professional experience under their belts helps can provide a perspective that current players respect and respond to.
“Someone that’s been on campus, has been through the gauntlet of working here and playing here and understanding that part of it ... he’s been there and done that at the highest level at our university, so I think it’s a huge benefit to have someone that’s walked the halls, that understands being a Gamecock,” Muschamp said.
Shaw won 27 games at South Carolina from 2010-2013. He’s also the school’s career leader in completion percentage (65.5 percent), second in career passing touchdowns (56) and fourth in career passing yards (6,074). He’s the 22nd all-time leading rusher in school history with 1,683 yards on the ground.
He spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons with Cleveland Browns, starting one game in his NFL career but missed the 2015 season due to a thumb injury. He was signed by the Chicago Bears in 2016 but missed that season due to a broken leg and was waived by the Bears in May of 2017.
For Shaw, getting the chance to return to South Carolina after spending some time away from football, working for benefits company Colonial Life, was also a no-brainer.
“Regardless of the timing, it’s an opportunity to come back to the university I love, that I invested so much into, that invested in me,” Shaw said. “So, did I enjoy what I was doing before this? Sure, I think I learned a lot, and it’s a great skill set that I think will be transferable this type of role, but I had aspirations to be a part of this university, and I love what they’re building here.”
This story was originally published January 15, 2020 at 11:21 AM.
