Posted by ESPN.com's Brian Bennett
Football seems like a natural path for a guy with the name Mike Shanahan.
But Pitt's redshirt freshman receiver -- who is not related to the more famous former Denver Broncos coach -- wasn't sure which sport he would play in college. He was a standout basketball player who received scholarship offers from Akron, Air Force and others out of high school. His father and three uncles also played college basketball.
"I went back and forth for a while," said Shanahan, who was also recruited as a receiver by West Virginia and Stanford. "But I'm really happy that I stuck with football."
So are the Panthers. After a broken hand in training camp kept him out for the start of the season, Shanahan has developed into yet another playmaker in the Pitt passing game. He has seven catches for 88 yards in the past three games and made his first career start last time out against South Florida.
Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt said he wasn't really counting on much from Shanahan this season, but the rookie has become a valuable possession receiver with his 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame.
"I like getting first downs," Shanahan said. "And being physical in the blocking and running game is definitely something I try to do."
He has also shown some of the best hands on the team. He gives Bill Stull a second gigantic target, along with 6-foot-5 deep-play threat Jonathan Baldwin. Shanahan and Baldwin, by the way, played on the same AAU basketball team.
"Some guys just have a knack for going up, using their bodies and catching the ball at the high point, and some guys don't," Wannstedt said. "Mike and Jonathan can make those difficult catches and I think it's because they have great body control and they have great hand-eye coordination."
Shanahan's emergence only adds to the arsenal that Pitt has assembled in the passing game. Along with Baldwin, there's tight end/hybrid Dorin Dickerson, who's become a go-to guy with nine touchdown catches. Oderick Turner can split out wide opposite Baldwin, and Cedric McGee is another solid possession receiver, with freshman Cam Saddler a speed threat when healthy. And that's not even mentioning reigning All-Big East tight end Nate Byham.
"I think we're all unique in all of our respective areas," Shanahan said.
Shanahan might not have a unique football name -- "I get asked about that a lot," he said -- but he looks to have followed the right career path.
Football seems like a natural path for a guy with the name Mike Shanahan.
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| Jim O'Connor/US PRESSWIRE | |
| Redshirt freshman receiver Mike Shanahan has been an unexpected contributor this season for Pitt. |
"I went back and forth for a while," said Shanahan, who was also recruited as a receiver by West Virginia and Stanford. "But I'm really happy that I stuck with football."
So are the Panthers. After a broken hand in training camp kept him out for the start of the season, Shanahan has developed into yet another playmaker in the Pitt passing game. He has seven catches for 88 yards in the past three games and made his first career start last time out against South Florida.
Pittsburgh coach Dave Wannstedt said he wasn't really counting on much from Shanahan this season, but the rookie has become a valuable possession receiver with his 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame.
"I like getting first downs," Shanahan said. "And being physical in the blocking and running game is definitely something I try to do."
He has also shown some of the best hands on the team. He gives Bill Stull a second gigantic target, along with 6-foot-5 deep-play threat Jonathan Baldwin. Shanahan and Baldwin, by the way, played on the same AAU basketball team.
"Some guys just have a knack for going up, using their bodies and catching the ball at the high point, and some guys don't," Wannstedt said. "Mike and Jonathan can make those difficult catches and I think it's because they have great body control and they have great hand-eye coordination."
Shanahan's emergence only adds to the arsenal that Pitt has assembled in the passing game. Along with Baldwin, there's tight end/hybrid Dorin Dickerson, who's become a go-to guy with nine touchdown catches. Oderick Turner can split out wide opposite Baldwin, and Cedric McGee is another solid possession receiver, with freshman Cam Saddler a speed threat when healthy. And that's not even mentioning reigning All-Big East tight end Nate Byham.
"I think we're all unique in all of our respective areas," Shanahan said.
Shanahan might not have a unique football name -- "I get asked about that a lot," he said -- but he looks to have followed the right career path.
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Brian Bennett
Bennett joined ESPN.com in August 2008 after nine years at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., where he covered college sports and the University of Louisville beat. He lives in Louisville.
BIG EAST SCOREBOARD
Saturday, 11/21
Final Louisville 22 South Florida 34 Final/2OT Connecticut 33 Notre Dame 30 Final 25 Rutgers 13 Syracuse 31
