South Carolina football kicks off the 2025 season in 14 days. Here's a look at No. 14, Connor Shaw.
South Carolina football will take the field for the first time in the 2025 season on August 31st when the Gamecocks take on the Virginia Tech Hokies in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. That means kickoff is just 14 days away.
There is virtually no debate as to who is the greatest quarterback in South Carolina history. Despite being somewhat unheralded out of high school and then being the backup for the 2010 SEC East Championship squad and the start of the 2011 season, Connor Shaw became a Gamecock legend. Wearing No. 14, he was one of the best leaders and competitors ever to play in Columbia.
Shaw always dreamed of playing for Steve Spurrier. So when the Head Ball Coach called, it didn’t take long for him to pledge his services to South Carolina. When he arrived on campus, Stephen Garcia was the entrenched starter. Outside of a few patented (and turnover-related) Spurrier QB swaps, Shaw didn’t see much action as a freshman.
He won the position battle with Garcia ahead of 2011 but lost it in the season opener against East Carolina. However, when the veteran was dismissed from the program, the Gamecocks became Shaw’s team.
He never looked back.
Over his career as the starting quarterback, Shaw never lost at Williams-Brice Stadium. He guided Carolina to three 11-2 seasons in a row, including three Florida bowl games against Big Ten powers. Had the 12-team College Football Playoff been around then, Shaw likely would have led the team to three CFP berths. In both 2012 and 2013, he was just a couple of plays away from pushing the Gamecocks to the SEC Championship Game and, potentially, inclusion in the National Championship Game.
As the starter, Shaw only lost three times combined against rivals Clemson, Georgia, Florida, and Tennessee, and he never lost to the in-state Tigers. He also went undefeated against the rest of the SEC East and Mississippi State.
Shaw is the winningest quarterback to ever wear garnet and black. He also provided Gamecock fans with some of the greatest memories of that era. Though not the starter in the game, Shaw’s “Miracle in Missouri” remains one of the most iconic performances in team history.
When all was said and done, Shaw had accounted for nearly 7000 yards of offense, 74 total touchdowns, and just 16 interceptions. He also holds the USC record for quarterback rushing yards. As a senior, he posted an incredible ratio of 31 touchdowns and just one pick while tallying over 3000 yards. Those 31 scores are tied for a single-season program record, and his 74 career TDs are the top mark for any Gamecock.
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Shaw finished his career with a 368-yard, five-touchdown performance against Wisconsin in the Capital One Bowl. In the victory, he threw for a trio of scores, rushed for a touchdown, and caught one from converted quarterback Bruce Ellington. He went 22-for-25 in the contest, too. It was a microcosm of his entire career: Shaw was efficient, showed off his versatility, found the end zone often, and did enough for South Carolina to win.
Following his graduation, Shaw played four seasons in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears. He even made a start with the Browns.
When his playing days ended, Shaw briefly got into coaching. He spent some time at Furman before returning to Columbia as Director of Player Development and Director of Football Operations. He also served as the interim quarterbacks coach after Will Muschamp’s dismissal in 2020.
In 2021, the University of South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame welcomed Shaw as a member. That marked one of the quickest turnarounds from playing career to induction.
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Category: General Sports
