Until the final two games of last season, Vikings senior and defensive captain DeShawn Shead had never played a down at safety. Despite being an all-conference defensive back and wide receiver for Highland High School in Palmdale, Calif., Shead was never seen roving the deep secondary, even as a prep star.
So naturally, the transition to a new position at the college level would have its hitches, right? Shead thinks otherwise.
Until the final two games of last season, Vikings senior and defensive captain DeShawn Shead had never played a down at safety. Despite being an all-conference defensive back and wide receiver for Highland High School in Palmdale, Calif., Shead was never seen roving the deep secondary, even as a prep star.
So naturally, the transition to a new position at the college level would have its hitches, right? Shead thinks otherwise.
“With being in the defense for so long and all the studying I’ve been doing, it was an easy transition, because I knew what everyone’s styles were and how they played,” Shead said. “I knew I could fit in well.”
After making 31 consecutive starts at cornerback for the Vikings since the 2008 season, Shead made his first start at safety on Nov. 13 of last year against Northern Colorado, the second-to-last game of the season. An increase of depth and talent to the cornerback position from last season and into the offseason has made Shead’s move to safety a little less unnerving for head coach Nigel Burton.
“We felt that our depth at the corner position was good enough, we had some guys there that we wanted to get on the field,” Burton said. “And that’s the idea is to get your best 11 guys on the field.”
Shead now has a better view of the entire field as opposed to just one side, and has a chance to be in on every play no matter where the ball goes. He knows that he has to play a different role than he has in years past.
“The biggest difference to me has been the angles,” Shead said. “I was coming from the edge at cornerback in the past, now I’m at the top of the defense, and you see the whole field, a lot of north and south angles.”
The Vikings defense so far this season has shaved over 100 yards off their yards allowed per game total. After nearly knocking off third ranked Montana State on Saturday, Shead feels that Portland State’s defense could still be further improved.
“With the defense we have right now, if everyone does their job on defense, we could be national champions,” Shead said. “No doubt, I don’t even question it. If everyone does their job, all 11 doing their job, we could eliminate those big plays that happened.”
Probably Shead’s best quality, though, has nothing to do with football smarts and 40-yard dash times.
Defensive coordinator Eric Jackson feels that the character Shead brings is what benefits him and the team the most.
“He’s a competitive kid, he wants to do right and does right,” Jackson said. “That’s one of our core values is integrity. The guy says it, and he does it.”
Shead earned numerous accolades last season, including both second-team Big Sky Conference honors as well as Academic All-Big Sky honors. His peers have also voted him as the team’s top defensive back for three straight seasons. Despite not recording any interceptions in 2010, possibly due to opponents isolating him and not throwing his way, Shead still managed to record 51 tackles and seven pass-breakups.
Being a fifth-year senior, Shead has embraced the leadership role as the defensive captain.
“Being a safety, it’s been a stronger role for me to be a leader because I’m the one making all the calls, talking to everyone on the defense,” Shead said. “I have to make sure people are where they need to be and we’re prepared on every play.”
Jackson knows the value of a guy like Shead and the effect he can have on a defense looking to improve on last year’s poor performances.
“It doesn’t matter if he’s hurt or sick, Shead’s going to show up and give you what he’s got, and it’s going to be contagious to the guys around him,” Jackson said. “The guy just doesn’t waiver from who he is, and that’s what you want from everybody, and you hope that carries over to the whole team.”
Given Shead’s size, versatility and football smarts, NFL scouts are expected to give him a serious look throughout the season.
“Several scouts have talked to me at practice and after games,” Shead said. “It’s been a lot of fun.”
The humble, soft-spoken senior has the size and skill set to play anywhere in the secondary at the next level. And according to him, he’s willing to play wherever coaches want him.
“I’ll play anywhere,” Shead said. “I’ll go back to corner, run the ball, play receiver—I’ll do whatever.”
“I think he just needs to continue to improve and become more of a playmaker,” Burton said. “But he needs to just play, play his game and not worry about all that other stuff, all the talk.”
When asked how Shead has handled his leadership role, Burton kept it short and sweet.
“Unbelievably,” Burton said. “People definitely respect him.”
