Maximizing potential remains top goal for Shameik Blackshear

Shameik Blackshear is focused on the future after his junior and senior seasons at Bluffton High didn’t go as planned.

A nationally regarded prospect after a breakout sophomore season, Blackshear battled through a separated shoulder, cracked wrist and dislocated left pinky finger as a junior. In 2014, as a senior, he torn an ACL in Bluffton’s second game and was lost for the season.

Less than two weeks after signing with USC in February, Blackshear was arrested and charged with petit larceny. The charge was dropped in April, and Blackshear was able to enroll at USC in time for the June semester.

“Coming out to ‘Sandstorm’ is going to be unbelievable,” Blackshear said after signing with USC. “It’s going to be a flashback to when I was a kid watching them on TV.”

Blackshear said his surgically repaired knee is doing fine, but it’s unclear whether he will be limited when preseason practice begins in August. He was part of a defensive line class expected to inject life into a unit that struggled to make plays and get to the quarterback last season.

“I can compete for a starting spot,” he said. “I feel like, if I listen to my coaches, take care of my body, go to school, then I’ll have a great chance to be a first-round draft pick.”

Height/weight: 6-foot-5, 240 pounds

Stats: Had 5 tackles, 2 for loss as a senior before tearing an ACL in second game of season; also battled injuries as a junior but had 59 tackles (11 for loss), 5 sacks; as a sophomore, 97 tackles, 17 for loss, with 5 sacks

Rating: Four-star prospect, according to 247Sports Composite

▪  Was a five-star recruit and No. 12 on the Rivals250 following a strong sophomore campaign; dropped in the rankings with injury-plagued junior and season seasons

▪  Committed to USC on May 21, 2013, as his sophomore year at Bluffton came to a close.

▪  Was an Under Armour All-American

▪  On comparisons to Jadeveon Clowney: “Clowney is the one I can relate to the most because we are similar in a way. He’s just a little more blessed naturally. Clowney’s going to be Clowney. I’m going to be me. I’m just trying to work as hard so I can be my best. I’m trying to maximize my body and what God gave me.”

▪  “When I get on the field, whether I’m the No. 1 player in the country or the last player in the country, I’m going to give it all I’ve got.”

▪  “People think because I’m big that I’m slow. I’m not slow. Once I get in open space, it’s off to the races. I’m a good outside rusher. I can play outside linebacker if needed to. I’m fast off the ball. I’m just real good at pass rushing and using my hands for separation.”

Defensive line coach Deke Adams: “Really good player. We have watched him over the years, had him in camp. He’s a really good player who is going to bring a lot of good energy to the program, look forward to him stepping in early and giving us some pass rush. Physically, he has the body already. We’re excited about what he’s going to bring, and he’s only going to get bigger and get better as we go through this process.”

Keith Niebuhr, 247Sports: “Blackshear is an enormous talent. He’s got a great frame. When you turn on the film, he pretty much dominates.”

Mike Farrell, Rivals: “He’s got so much talent. He just can’t stay healthy. Physically, he is tall and long and he has get-off. But he’s fallen from five stars to all the way down to a kid with so many questions. He has to be consistent and avoid the injuries. It could be bad luck. It could be mentality.”