"When I was younger, one of my goals was to leave California," Shaw said. "Now that the opportunity is here, I might as well take it and run with it."
He isn't even 18, and he has several tickets out of state, though USC is a strong contender for his services.
"I just feel blessed, because there are a lot of people out there who don't even have one scholarship offer," Shaw said. "So I am very humbled about it. I don't want to take anything for granted."
He also promised the OSU coaches that, despite both schools being on his radar, this trip is all about rooting for the Buckeyes.
"I told them I will be wearing all of my Ohio State gear," Shaw said, laughing. "So they know."
They also wouldn't mind hearing something more definitive from Shaw about his future before his 48-hour official visit ends, but that probably isn't going to happen. Shaw has official visits scheduled for Notre Dame, Florida and Louisiana State in the next several weeks, and can watch USC or UCLA anytime he likes.
"I'm looking for a place where my family will be comfortable with me attending, which of course means the academics being strong, and a place where I think they will put the best players on the field," Shaw said. "I want to go into a program that's used to winning. Most of the schools I'm looking at already have that."
Shaw was here on an unofficial visit a couple of months ago, which means this official visit really amounts to being an expenses-paid trip to see one of the premier intersectional games of the regular season.
"Really, on this trip, all I'm really hoping to see is the game atmosphere," Shaw said. "And I think it's going to be a great game."
