After being granted his release from Georgia Tech on Monday, former Flowery Branch standout Jaybo Shaw is transferring to Georgia Southern at the end of the current semester where former Tech assistant Jeff Monken is taking over as head coach.
Because he is transferring to a lower-division school, he will be eligible to play next fall, although he has not yet used his redshirt year.
Shaw said the chance to work with Monken and compete for a starting spot was part of Georgia Southern’s attraction, but equally important was the education major the school offers.
“I know I want to get that degree for later in life, because I want to go into teaching and coaching,” Shaw said. “And I’m excited to get down there and start competing. I haven’t looked too in-depth at the roster, but I know they’re not going to just hand me the starting job.”
Shaw also said there was no truth to rumors that his father and Flowery Branch football coach Lee Shaw would be joining him in Statesboro.
“No, my dad’s staying at Flowery Branch,” Jaybo said with a laugh. “He’s excited about it, and I’ve got a sister still there who plays on the tennis team there, so he’s not leaving.”
At Georgia Southern, Monken is installing a triple-option offense similar to the one coach Paul Johnson first brought from Georgia Southern to Navy, and from Navy to Georgia Tech. Monken was an assistant to Johnson at each stop.
Shaw played two seasons with the Yellow Jackets, seeing limited action while backing up quarterback Josh Nesbitt.
As a freshman, Shaw played in seven games and started one while Nesbitt was injured. He finished 2008 with more than 300 passing yards, 200 rushing yards and accounted for five total touchdowns.
Last season he played in four games and attempted two passes after injuring his collarbone during preseason practices.
“The last two years have been a lot of fun, and I’ve had some great experiences — playing in the ACC championship game and in a BCS bowl game,” said Shaw, who added that his teammates have been understanding of his situation.
“That was a relief,” he said.
Shaw, The Times 2006 Football Player of the Year, finished his high school career more than 9,340 yards of total offense and 127 touchdowns. During his freshman and sophomore seasons at Flowery Branch, the Falcons operated out of the same triple-option offense now used at Georgia Tech and expected to be installed at Georgia Southern.
Meanwhile, Georgia Tech returns Nesbitt, a first team All-ACC quarterback, although the senior signal-caller will miss spring practice to recover from ankle surgery. Shaw was expected to compete with at least three other returning quarterbacks — rising sophomore Tevin Washington and redshirt freshmen Jordan Luallen and David Sims — for the top backup role. At least one true freshman could join that race as well.
Georgia Tech’s spring practice begins March 29.
Because he is transferring to a lower-division school, he will be eligible to play next fall, although he has not yet used his redshirt year.
Shaw said the chance to work with Monken and compete for a starting spot was part of Georgia Southern’s attraction, but equally important was the education major the school offers.
“I know I want to get that degree for later in life, because I want to go into teaching and coaching,” Shaw said. “And I’m excited to get down there and start competing. I haven’t looked too in-depth at the roster, but I know they’re not going to just hand me the starting job.”
Shaw also said there was no truth to rumors that his father and Flowery Branch football coach Lee Shaw would be joining him in Statesboro.
“No, my dad’s staying at Flowery Branch,” Jaybo said with a laugh. “He’s excited about it, and I’ve got a sister still there who plays on the tennis team there, so he’s not leaving.”
At Georgia Southern, Monken is installing a triple-option offense similar to the one coach Paul Johnson first brought from Georgia Southern to Navy, and from Navy to Georgia Tech. Monken was an assistant to Johnson at each stop.
Shaw played two seasons with the Yellow Jackets, seeing limited action while backing up quarterback Josh Nesbitt.
As a freshman, Shaw played in seven games and started one while Nesbitt was injured. He finished 2008 with more than 300 passing yards, 200 rushing yards and accounted for five total touchdowns.
Last season he played in four games and attempted two passes after injuring his collarbone during preseason practices.
“The last two years have been a lot of fun, and I’ve had some great experiences — playing in the ACC championship game and in a BCS bowl game,” said Shaw, who added that his teammates have been understanding of his situation.
“That was a relief,” he said.
Shaw, The Times 2006 Football Player of the Year, finished his high school career more than 9,340 yards of total offense and 127 touchdowns. During his freshman and sophomore seasons at Flowery Branch, the Falcons operated out of the same triple-option offense now used at Georgia Tech and expected to be installed at Georgia Southern.
Meanwhile, Georgia Tech returns Nesbitt, a first team All-ACC quarterback, although the senior signal-caller will miss spring practice to recover from ankle surgery. Shaw was expected to compete with at least three other returning quarterbacks — rising sophomore Tevin Washington and redshirt freshmen Jordan Luallen and David Sims — for the top backup role. At least one true freshman could join that race as well.
Georgia Tech’s spring practice begins March 29.