Even after Coach Meyer decided to take a leave of absence, Joshua Shaw, a committed recruit to the Gators will stay loyal to his word.

Shaw is a defensive back from Palmdale High School in California. He is ranked by Scouts.com to be the third best DB in the nation and a four star recruit. With his great size, blue chip speed and strength, and great agility, Coach Meyer perceived Shaw as a necessity to his team. Meyer recruited Shaw strongly and formed a “father-son relationship” with him.

When the news broke of Urban Meyer resigning as the head coach, Shaw, shocked, stated, “I didn’t believe it.” Shaw knew that his health issue must be serious for him to leave his wonder job. Shaw was immediately concerned with the health of Meyer and at once emailed the coach, and then followed up with a phone call. Shaw said that, “My main thing was just making sure he was OK.” His main priority was to ensure that Meyer was all right. He was not concerned with his own situation, but with Coach Meyer’s.

Shaw and Meyer spoke on the phone and he insured Shaw that he was not going anywhere. He discussed with Meyer and they both agreed that he would not commit nor speak to other schools. Shaw stated at this point that, “I just left it in God’s hands.” The two spoke on the phone again before Coach Meyer’s press conference on Sunday and Meyer basically stated that he was staying actively involved at Florida so therefore, it was safe for Shaw to remain committed to the Gators. This was a positive message for the recruit.

Shaw stated that, all of this worked out great because after the Under Armour game and he was headed up to Gainesville to get situated after orientation on January 4th. Shaw said that, “I just left it in God’s hands and it all worked out and I am 100 percent Gator.”

All in all, Joshua Shaw will remain a Gator even though Urban Meyer is taking an indefinite leave of absence from the team. We can expect Shaw to be on the Gator practice field come this spring.

(Info gathered by both scout.com and JC Shurburtt from ESPN)

By: Justin Rectenwald