Billy Shaw - College Career

College Career

Shaw played offense while he was at Georgia Tech. By his senior year, Shaw weighed in at 220 pounds. His senior year he earned All-American honors as a two-way tackle and was named to the Georgia Tech All-Time Team. “Actually,” Shaw once said, “l thought I played defense much better than offense, and I still believe most of the honors I received were for my defensive play.” After the season Shaw was named to the 1961 College All-Star Team. The coach worked him for two weeks as a Defensive End until guard Houston Antwine injured his ankle. This is when Shaw bagan playing guard. The College All-Star Team that year played the Philadelphia Eagles. "I was scared to death,” Shaw recalled about playing the NFL champion Philadelphia Eagles in the annual All-Star contest. "I was up against Ed Khayat, a Mississippi boy who later finished his career with Boston (Patriots). I thought this might ease the tension a bit since he might take it easier on me. It was just the opposite. He turned me every way but loose.” Shaw played an amazing game, actually knocking the wind out of Eagle linebacker Maxie Baughan. In the 1961 draft, Shaw was drafted in the second round by the Buffalo Bills, and in the 14th round by the, then rival team of the Buffalo Bills, the Dallas Cowboys. “I had been in contact with the Cowboys mostly prior to the Bills getting involved,” recalled Shaw. “The Cowboys wanted to play me at linebacker. We had lengthy conversations at that point in time. The Bills wanted to play me at either defensive end or an offensive line position. I really wanted to play on the defensive side of the ball as a defensive end. So that triggered a real interest for me (in the Bills).”