The House of Blue

Not Jeff or Matt but think you may have answered your own question: a ton of depth at TE.

Interesting nontheless. Welcome to the site by the way tomcat

Maybe it has more to do with how much they like Kendrick, Aumiller and Dupree? I don't believe Shields has the body type for a "safety" but he could play the LB/Safety hybrid.

Very odd move, if true. Like others have noted, all we have heard are rave reviews about how he has done at TE and how he could be THE one to watch in Fall camp this year. Then again, comments like that have to be taken with a grain of salt as positive comments can often be used as motivation by coaches, just like negative comments about a player's performances. I also don't see him as having the body-type for Safety (not even for S/OLB hybrid like Guy), but I'm not there seeing the kids every day like the staff, so who knows?

No, I actually see him as very easy to get knocked down or out because at 6'5 he has zero leverage.

I think we may want to start calling that position Rover or something like that. It might help people get over some of the mental block of thinking its a true safety spot. WVa has made a living taking guys like this and putting them at the Rover spot in their 3-3-5. Just last year they had a guy named Robert Sands who was 6'5 220 playing the spot. Ended up a 5th rounder.

I fully agree that if we were trying to get him to play as a true S, it'd be a head-scratcher... but I can't imagine that being the plan. I think he can be a good fit at the Hybrid spot if we're just asking him to drop into short zones and be more of a run-stopper.

Dakotah Tyler and Mychal Bailey have both been mentioned with possible issues that could effect their eligibility.

Kent Spencer just tweeted that Shields was referring to being placed as a safety on NCAA12.

lol. Wow.