The North Carolina Tar Heels compiled one of their best football recruiting classes in 2022, landing a pair of 5-star recruits and several additional four stars.
UNC’s crown jewel of its 2022 recruiting class was defensive tackle Travis Shaw, an in-state standout from Grimsley High School in Greensboro. Despite his 5-star status, Shaw never panned out in Chapel Hill, rarely starting and only recording 55 tackles across three seasons.
Shaw previously entered the transfer portal amid uncertainty surrounding North Carolina’s coaching search, but many wondered if he’d return upon Bill Belichick’s hiring.
We got our answer on Sunday, January 5, as Shaw committed to the Texas Longhorns.
Shaw won’t be suiting up for Texas during Friday’s CFP semifinal matchup against Ohio State, as the NCAA has a strict rule, prohibiting student-athletes from playing for multiple teams in one year.
While there’s tons of excitement surrounding the Tar Heels’ entering 2025, it’s tough to pass up playing for an SEC football program, particularly one with a recent track record of success. I’m hopeful and confident Belichick will revive UNC, but the Longhorns have a higher likelihood of 2025 success.
Shaw saw a slight uptick in playing time during North Carolina’s 2024 campaign, setting career highs with 26 tackles, 14 assisted tackles and 12 solo tackles. Shaw’s best game came during the Tar Heels’ bowl-clinching victory against Wake Forest, when he totaled four tackles (three solo), forced a fumble and deflected a pass.
Despite Shaw not being in Carolina Blue any longer, his loss isn’t a major one. Highly-touted high school recruits sometimes don’t pan out, but hopefully Texas is the change of scenery Shaw needs, to unlock his full potential and become one of the game’s best defensive lineman.
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