Trojans' Shaw injures ankles jumping from balcony to save nephew
What Josh Shaw did over the weekend - risking his well-being to aid a loved one - did not come as a surprise to anyone who knows the USC cornerback.
The senior and football team captain sprained both of his ankles while rescuing his 7-year-old nephew from potentially drowning Saturday night, according to an account posted on the Trojans' official website.
Per the report, Shaw was attending a family function at his cousin's apartment in his hometown of Palmdale. While standing on a second-floor balcony, Shaw saw his nephew, Carter, 'in distress without help nearby,' according to the report.
Shaw then jumped off the balcony, landing on the concrete. He crawled into the pool and pulled his nephew to safety. Shaw, who has six interceptions in two seasons with USC, is out 'indefinitely,' according to the school.
'I would do it again for whatever kid it was; it did not have to be my nephew,' Shaw said. 'My ankles really hurt, but I am lucky to be surrounded by the best trainers and doctors in the world. I am taking my rehab one day at a time, and I hope to be back on the field as soon as possible.'
Shaw wouldn't be at USC if his family didn't need him. He transferred from Florida in 2012 because his grandfather was sick and his father needed major knee surgery.
'I told my mother that I wanted to come home and take over my father's landscaping business,' Shaw recounted during a graduation speech this spring. 'My family told me no and to stay in Florida and continue my dream of becoming a scholar-athlete. As you all can see, I didn't listen.'
The first two summers he was back, Shaw said, he attended classes, participated in team workouts and commuted to Palmdale to help with the family business. It's about an hour-long drive without traffic.
'Although this was never easy,' Shaw said in the speech, 'I was able to experience so much joy within my soul because finally I could give back to my parents, who had always given me so much.'
Jeff Williams, Shaw's coach at Palmdale High, said his former player's actions Saturday were completely in character.
'He's one of those guys that you can depend on to do the right thing regardless of anything that could happen to him,' Williams said in a phone interview. 'And he does them without a second thought. He's not a 'me' guy. He never has been. When he was here as a captain it was, what can I do for us, as a team.'
Shaw drew widespread praise after the story about him rescuing his nephew went public Monday afternoon.
'Best wishes to Josh Shaw for a speedy recovery,' UCLA coach Jim Mora tweeted. 'What a stud, what a role model.'
USC opens its season Saturday against Fresno State.
Shaw is the Trojans' most experienced and accomplished defensive back. Besides his six interceptions, he has 97 tackles, including 71/2 for losses, and 13 pass deflections in 27 games. He became a full-time cornerback in training camp after switching between corner and safety during his first two seasons at USC.
Junior Kevon Seymour and redshirt freshman Chris Hawkins likely will start at cornerback, with freshman Adoree' Jackson backing them up. USC also will use a three-safety alignment against pass-heavy teams.
'That was a heroic act by Josh, putting his personal safety aside. But that's the kind of person he is,' USC coach Steve Sarkisian said. 'It is unfortunate that he'll be sidelined for a while, and we will miss his leadership and play, but I know he'll be working hard to get back on the field as soon as possible.'
Contact the writer: mlev@ocregister.com
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