The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
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UAB’s Wait to Unleash Kam Shanks is Finally Over
9/5/2024 11:33:00 AM | Football
Story Written by UAB Senior Lucas Gray
BIRMINGHAM - Don't let the 5-foot-8 and 180-pound frame fool you.
UAB's Kam Shanks isn't your average "small and fast" archetype of wide receiver, and this coaching staff knew that early, but after a year of waiting he's getting his chance to show it.
The redshirt freshman made his debut at wide receiver last Thursday night in UAB's 41-3 rout of Alcorn State and made an instant impact, hauling in six catches for 73 yards. On three punt returns, Shanks added 98 yards including a 57-yard punt return touchdown, the Blazers' first since 2013.
In four games last season before being given the redshirt tag, Shanks' only game action came on five punt returns, racking up 93 total yards.
"We had a lot of conversations in practice like 'Hey man, I don't want to waste this year for you' but there was also a lot of people at his position, and they needed to play. It was hard not to play him last year after those four games."
Head coach Trent Dilfer said about the difficult decision to redshirt Shanks. "I made a promise to him when we were recruiting him… and I think I had a vision for what you (Shanks) could be, and we've done everything we said we would do in terms of helping him reach his potential and build things around him."
Shanks knew he faced an uphill battle regarding potentially enrolling and playing immediately in 2023.
"I already knew I had people in front of me, so I just put my head down and worked while they did what they had to do, waiting for my time to show what I got."
In the ten months waiting for his opportunity, he said he most looked to his family for influence.
"My mom, my grandma, my whole family really kept me down, told me my time was coming. They support me and come to all my games, so I try to show off for them every chance I get."
They wouldn't have to wait long for him to do it, either. On the very first two plays of the season, he caught two passes for 48 yards total, instantly flipping the field for UAB's offense and leading the first scoring drive of the season. His six catches on the night were twice as many as the next leading Blazer receiver.
On feeling trust from the staff regarding his offensive workload Shanks said "It's a building process. It builds up trust, the more I touch the ball, the more I get comfortable playing the game."
In the offseason, he said the main areas of his game he worked to improve were his hands and route running, hoping to "become a real receiver, instead of just being that guy known for being fast."
Trent Dilfer and his offensive staff knew they had a potential hidden gem when the former Prattville High School star committed to the team in December of 2022. He was rated as a three-star prospect on On3 Sports, but completely unranked on ESPN and 24/7, with the head coach saying Shanks was told by some teams he was too small to succeed in college, but said from his staff's view, "all we see is one of the best playmakers in our conference."
Shanks' next chance to put the college football world on notice comes this Saturday at 6 p.m. when UAB travels to Louisiana-Monroe to face former interim head coach Bryant Vincent and the Warhawks in what is expected to be a physical and emotional battle between two 1-0 teams.
BIRMINGHAM - Don't let the 5-foot-8 and 180-pound frame fool you.
UAB's Kam Shanks isn't your average "small and fast" archetype of wide receiver, and this coaching staff knew that early, but after a year of waiting he's getting his chance to show it.
The redshirt freshman made his debut at wide receiver last Thursday night in UAB's 41-3 rout of Alcorn State and made an instant impact, hauling in six catches for 73 yards. On three punt returns, Shanks added 98 yards including a 57-yard punt return touchdown, the Blazers' first since 2013.
In four games last season before being given the redshirt tag, Shanks' only game action came on five punt returns, racking up 93 total yards.
"We had a lot of conversations in practice like 'Hey man, I don't want to waste this year for you' but there was also a lot of people at his position, and they needed to play. It was hard not to play him last year after those four games."
Head coach Trent Dilfer said about the difficult decision to redshirt Shanks. "I made a promise to him when we were recruiting him… and I think I had a vision for what you (Shanks) could be, and we've done everything we said we would do in terms of helping him reach his potential and build things around him."
Shanks knew he faced an uphill battle regarding potentially enrolling and playing immediately in 2023.
"I already knew I had people in front of me, so I just put my head down and worked while they did what they had to do, waiting for my time to show what I got."
In the ten months waiting for his opportunity, he said he most looked to his family for influence.
"My mom, my grandma, my whole family really kept me down, told me my time was coming. They support me and come to all my games, so I try to show off for them every chance I get."
They wouldn't have to wait long for him to do it, either. On the very first two plays of the season, he caught two passes for 48 yards total, instantly flipping the field for UAB's offense and leading the first scoring drive of the season. His six catches on the night were twice as many as the next leading Blazer receiver.
On feeling trust from the staff regarding his offensive workload Shanks said "It's a building process. It builds up trust, the more I touch the ball, the more I get comfortable playing the game."
In the offseason, he said the main areas of his game he worked to improve were his hands and route running, hoping to "become a real receiver, instead of just being that guy known for being fast."
Trent Dilfer and his offensive staff knew they had a potential hidden gem when the former Prattville High School star committed to the team in December of 2022. He was rated as a three-star prospect on On3 Sports, but completely unranked on ESPN and 24/7, with the head coach saying Shanks was told by some teams he was too small to succeed in college, but said from his staff's view, "all we see is one of the best playmakers in our conference."
Shanks' next chance to put the college football world on notice comes this Saturday at 6 p.m. when UAB travels to Louisiana-Monroe to face former interim head coach Bryant Vincent and the Warhawks in what is expected to be a physical and emotional battle between two 1-0 teams.
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