Former Ohio State safety Bryson Shaw is transferring to USC
At the beginning of the month, Ohio State safety Bryson Shaw announced he was entering the transfer portal. Despite being a starter for the Buckeyes for much of the 2021 season, Shaw believed he would have more opportunity elsewhere.
On Sunday, Shaw announced his new program. The safety is headed to USC where he will reunite with former Scarlet and Gray defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, who moved with Lincoln Riley from Oklahoma to be part of the Trojans’ staff. Grinch was Shaw’s primary recruiter coming out of high school and was his position coach in 2018.
”I wanted to let everyone know that my son Bryson has committed to the University of Southern California Trojans to continue his college football career. All the best to our extended family at OSU,”Shaw’s father posted on his Twitter account on Sunday afternoon.
Shaw was a three-star recruit coming out of The Bullis School in Potomac, Maryland. He was the ninth ranked player in the 2019 recruiting class, the 45th ranked safety and ranked as the 575 player overall, per the 247Sports Composite. Shaw committed to the Buckeyes on April 28, 2018, picking the Scarlet and Gray over scholarship offers from Wisconsin, Duke, Maryland, Penn State and other programs.
After playing three games as a true freshman and recording just two total tackles, Shaw redshirted in 2019. He played in five of Ohio State’s eight games as a redshirt freshman in 2020, recording one total tackle and one pass defended.
In 2021, Shaw got his first extended time following the leg injury to starting safety Josh Proctor in the second week of the season against Oregon. Due to Proctor being out, Shaw played in a career-high 13 games, starting the remaining 11 contests. He recorded 59 total tackles, three passes defended, one interception and one fumble recovery.
The Buckeye defense struggled in 2021, largely due to young players like Shaw having to step into bigger roles. Like many of his young teammates, Shaw struggled at times but began to play better for the Scarlet and Gray as the season progressed. He became a vocal leader for the team, stepping up and facing the media following the loss to Michigan in late November, the team’s first since the 2011 season.
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Under new defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, the Ohio State defense will look different in 2022. Playing with three safeties, Proctor is returning and expected to be a starter, Oklahoma State transfer Tanner McCalister is expected to slot into another of the roles and returner Ronnie Hickman is likely going into the third spot.
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