USC's Shaw has the 'it' to play right away

COLUMBIA -- G.A. Mangus played quarterback at Florida in the early 1990s. He's coached offenses, and the position, ever since. That includes his year-plus as the QBs coach at South Carolina.

In short, he's qualified to discuss the position -- and, specifically, what makes a good quarterback a good quarterback.

Yet, pressed to that point concerning freshman Connor Shaw, Mangus is sorta stumped. He definitively knows Shaw has special qualities -- ones that lift him above other quarterbacks, and certainly other freshman quarterbacks -- but they're not necessarily things you can put into words.

"It's just 'it,' " Mangus said. "And I wish I could define that. It's an intangible thing. It's the way they carry themselves, a quiet confidence. He's got all that 'it.' "

Even if "it" can't be formed into words, you can at least explain why Shaw comes equipped with that "it."

Shaw is, no question, a product of his environment as a youth.

He grew up the son of a hard-nosed Georgia high school coach, Flowery Branch's Lee Shaw, who demanded the very best from his boys. The expectation level, even from traditionally tough Steve Spurrier, wasn't a shock when Shaw arrived at USC -- not the way it is with a good number of the newcomers each spring and fall.

Additionally, he carefully studied the career track of his older brother, Jaybo. Jaybo was at Georgia Tech for a couple of seasons before transferring to Georgia Southern this year.

Connor attended "most" of Jaybo's practices and games at Georgia Tech. He was watching, sure, but he was also processing and gathering info for his own time in college.

Shaw is sharp enough that he realized after his sophomore year in high school that he wanted to graduate early so he could enroll early at his college of choice. By getting to South Carolina in January, he's given himself a chance to play immediately.

If he had enrolled in June, like most freshmen, there's little chance he would have had the required working knowledge of the playbook. It's a struggle as it is, Shaw admits. But you can only imagine what it would have been like if he were beginning only now, as opposed to eight months ago.

"I think it's one of the best decisions I've made, to get here in the spring," Shaw said. "I got a head start on things -- the playbook and getting stronger, just knowing the game. I think it's benefited me a great deal."

His arrival -- the timing of it, really -- is what's vaulted him into the quarterback conversation. Every question to Spurrier about starter Stephen Garcia evolves into at least a mention of Connor Shaw.

It happened Sunday at the team's Media Day.

Spurrier believes, at the very least, there's a role for Shaw on the 2010 team. Shaw's max potential as a freshman isn't something Garcia wants to hear or think about. Put it this way: If things go to plan, the 2011 QB battle could be an interesting one.

The coaches like Shaw's running ability. He is fundamentally sound in his understanding and execution of the option read. That's where he could be an asset this season, particularly.

Mangus said the spring was a gradual integration into the offense. It was a spoon-feeding. Now's the time, during camp, that Shaw is receiving the hearty main course.

It was a positive first week where that's concerned, Mangus said.

"What's impressive about him is how quickly everything sticks," he said.

Football, football, football. That's how Shaw's mind seems to work. Who knows what comes after football, because it's so distant to football.

Other quarterbacks seem delighted by the distractions of college life. There's nothing wrong with that, in moderation, but it's simply not Shaw.

That's probably another reason why he's in the position to play right away.

Garcia said something sort of off-color earlier in the week. Spurrier told Garcia privately that, you know, he didn't always have to say exactly what was on his mind. That won't be a conversation Spurrier ever has with Shaw.

Where Garcia seems to like attention and being out front, Shaw is to the point in the way he talks with reporters. He's not going to waste a word he doesn't feel like he has to say. Every sentence ends with this defined awkward silence. When he's done, he's done. On to the next.

Shaw has a distant look in his eye during those times. His gaze seems to say he would rather be on a football field. And it's probably true.

This is the kid that Spurrier described in the winter, upon enrollment, as a "football junkie." Spurrier, himself, has probably never even been described as a football junkie.

Perhaps that's the "it." At least part of "it." It's surely why Mangus and the Gamecocks were chattering internally about Shaw during camp last year -- and why the staff thinks he'll see the field this year.

"I knew there was a shot I'd be able to play, get some reps, not redshirt," Shaw says.

But then he freezes. He realizes he's saying more than he intends.

"I don't know," he starts again. "I'm just trying to do my job."

Reach Travis Haney at thaney@postandcourier.com.

Check out the Gamecocks blog at postandcourier.com/blogs/gamecocks and follow him on Twitter (@gamecocksblog).