Gene Chizik reveals why he's been impressed with Travis Shaw

Spring practice has reached it’s home stretch in Chapel Hill with North Carolina‘s spring game kicking off at 3 p.m. on Saturday April 15. The Tar Heels have looked to make strides this offseason, and apparently defensive lineman Travis Shaw has done just that this spring. North Carolina Assistant Head Coach for Defense Gene Chizik spoke about Shaw’s improvements during spring practice and his potential to continue growing moving forward.

“I’m really proud of the progression for Trav, he can be a dominating inside player,” Chizik said. “He’s definitely shown flashes this spring of what we want, he’s still growing as a player. But he’s got exactly what you want down there he’s got size, he’s got strength, he’s got short area quickness, he just needs to continue to learn the game.”

Shaw was a highly rated recruit out of Grimsley high school in North Carolina. The 6-foot-5.5, 355 pound defensive lineman was ranked the No. 49 prospect in the nation and the No. 8 defensive lineman in the 2022 class according to On3’s Industry Rankings. His size gives him the physical tools to be successful, but according to Chizik, the mental side of the game is where he can take leaps and bounds forward.

“I think he’s growing up mentally, I think there were some times last year where a new guy coming in, long season, some days I don’t really feel like it, man it’s one of those days – and I don’t see those with him in the spring. I see him coming out here every day and really trying to grind to improve and that’s where I’m really proud of him because when he gets the mental side of the game down, the physical side is there, it’s all mental for him,” Chizik explained.

In his true freshman season Shaw appeared in 13 games for the Tar Heels, racking up 18 tackles, two pass breakups, and half a tackle for loss. He ended the season strong with a career high four tackles in the Holiday Bowl, and can hopefully carry that momentum in his highly anticipated sophomore season.

“So if he’ll continue to take care of his body, doing the things we’re asking him to do, and he’ll continue to come out here and play with a purpose he can be what we thought he would be when he was recruited here,” Chizik said. “And he’s showing flashes of that, he has not arrived, but he’s showing more flashes of that now.”