The Gators football team plucked a highly touted prospect from the recruiting hotbed that is Southern California.
Joshua Shaw, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound cornerback from Palmdale High, verbally committed to play for Florida on Tuesday.
With rumors swirling on whether Joe Haden will return for a senior season at cornerback, Urban Meyer has not taken any chances, making Shaw the fifth defensive back in the 2010 Gators recruiting class. Shaw, a four-star recruit according to Rivals.com, has no problem leaving the Los Angeles area and coming to a school 4,000 miles from home.
“[The distance] doesn’t bother me at all,” Shaw said.
He was considering Ohio State, LSU and USC, among other schools, before verbally committing to UF.
“Always if I had an opportunity, I am going to take it and run away with it,” said Shaw, the 23rd-ranked player in the country and third for his position, according to Rivals.com.
After visiting UF’s campus on an official visit for the Tennessee game and an unofficial visit for the Vanderbilt game, Shaw knew that Gainesville was special.
“Great education that you can get at UF and a chance to compete right away,” Shaw said.
He also liked the college-town feel of Gainesville.
“I like the city,” Shaw said. “The whole town rallies around Florida football. Coaching staff was really nice.”
Jeff Williams, Shaw’s high school coach, thinks the cornerback will do fine playing for Meyer across the country.
“I have known Urban for a long time,” Williams said. “A great player’s coach. Genuinely wants to make them better people and football players.”
Shaw has a big build for a defensive back at 195 pounds. He has played on both sides of the ball for the Palmdale Falcons.
Shaw ran and caught 10 touchdowns in his junior year and excelled on defense with 40 solo tackles, six for a loss.
