National Football League

USC's Shaw can help increase draft stock at NFL Scouting Combine

Published Feb. 16, 2015 6:31 p.m. ET

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The 2015 NFL Scouting Combine kicks off this week in Indianapolis.

And it will be a particularly huge week for USC cornerback Josh Shaw.

NFL Network Draft analyst Mike Mayock says Shaw has a third to fourth-round grade on him but there's a chance he could go later once the incident is factored in about how he fabricated a story in which he said he suffered two high ankle sprains while trying to rescue his nephew from a pool before the start of last season.

"Just off tape you look at him and say he might be a third or fourth-round press corner but then you got to kind of filter in some of the off field stuff and I'm not sure what's going to happen there," Mayock said. "If you throw that out and just evaluate him as a football player he helped himself in a couple of the all-star games. I think he's a long, press corner."

Speaking on a different player during the teleconference Mayock noted the more talented the player the more forgiving others can be of him.

It would appear Shaw would factor somewhere in the middle of that theory considering his third to fourth-round grade. Of course, a good showing at the combine both on the field and in the interview process could help boost his stock.

The renowned draft analyst was complimentary of Shaw the football player, especially his skills in press coverage.

Those skills were seldom used during Shaw's senior year in which he was suspended for nearly the entire season. Shaw played in just the final three games of the season, making two starts, in 2014.

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Shaw started all 14 games for the Trojans in 2013 as a redshirt junior, 11 of those were at cornerback while the others were at safety. Shaw had four interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, and 67 tackles.

"He's not as good in off coverage," Mayock said. "He's got tight hips. He's not as good off but when you line him up and play press he competes."

Shaw's ability to play safety is a skill that would allow him to provide some versatility in the secondary of an NFL franchise.

The NFL Scouting Combine is set to get underway on Friday. Defensive backs are the last scheduled position group to take the field for on-field workouts. Their session will be Monday.