ATLANTA -- The countdown is on for the start of Georgia Tech's football season. The countdown is also on for Jaybo Shaw to find out where he will fit on this year's team.
The former Flowery Branch quarterback has moved up the depth chart for new head coach Paul Johnson and is now the official backup to starter Josh Nesbitt with less than a week to go before Thursday's season opener against Jacksonville State.
Injuries limited some of the quarterbacks for Tech over the last few weeks of practice, which helped Shaw get more time with the first-team offense and more time in front of the coaches.
"Josh went out with his shoulder last week, but you can see he's a great athlete, a great quarterback," Shaw said on Thursday. "I was just trying to take in every opportunity to show what I can do, and I guess I did a little bit."
Shaw admits his progression has a way to go -- playing well at the next level takes time.
"You can tell I'm not quite used to how fast this game is... yet. I'm trying to get better at it every day."
But he also admits the last few weeks of practice have helped him gain confidence.
"There's a point in the game where it has slowed down a little bit," he said. "I see the reads a little bit better. You can definitely tell this is the best level in college football and this is what I wanted coming out of high school."
Shaw is only three months removed from high school, yet he has a good chance to play, and possibly start, for a Division-I team that is just two years removed from an ACC championship game appearance.
Shaw says the coaches have not talked to him about red-shirting this season, which was something that had been mentioned at the beginning of training camp.
Reading between the lines, it seems Johnson might have forgotten about that red-shirt.
"I think [Shaw] is doing well. He's done some good things. Hopefully we'll have both he and Josh ready to go."
Johnson did note on his weekly radio show Wednesday on WQXI 790-AM that Shaw will most likely see playing time this season, possibly in game one.
Whatever happens, it appears that Shaw has done everything he can to find his way on the field this season.
Friday
October 25th, 2024
10:30AM
