Shaw, a senior who has played safety and cornerback for the Trojans, has been expected to help anchor the secondary. At 6-1, he is big cornerback with a high football IQ. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Southern Cal starting cornerback Josh Shaw is out for the season opener Saturday, but the cause of his two high ankle sprains is under heightened scrutiny as the university determines whether he was playing hero or villain when he was injured.
Multiple reports cite police sources that a man named Josh Shaw was named in a break-in a few miles from the USC campus. The Los Angeles Police Department said no one has been officially named as a suspect as of Wednesday morning.
Shaw, a team captain, said he suffered two high ankle sprains while jumping from a second-story balcony onto concrete to rescue his 7-year nephew, who was in distress in a pool. Shaw’s nephew cannot swim.
“I would do it again for whatever kid it was, it did not have to be my nephew,” Shaw said on USC’s athletics website.
“My ankles really hurt, but I am lucky to be surrounded by the best trainers and doctors in the world. I am taking my rehab one day at a time, and I hope to be back on the field as soon as possible.”
His sister supported the claims, but told USA Today she was not an eyewitness to the rescue.
On Tuesday, however, coach Steve Sarkisian said there were calls to the school questioning Shaw’s version of events.
The Los Angeles Times said police responded to a call at 10 p.m. Saturday night, when a caller reported hearing a woman screaming from a third-floor unit. A neighbor reported seeing a black man with dreadlocks run across or scale a balcony. The description matches Shaw. One female resident of the complex questioned, per the Times, told police “Sounds like my boyfriend, Josh Shaw.”
“He’s a good person, He’s a good kid,” Sarkisian said after practice. He came to us with what had occurred Saturday night and I have no reason, no history to not believe Josh and his story and what has occurred. … We’re going to continue to vet it. We’re looking at it.”
Shaw, a senior who has played safety and cornerback for the Trojans, has been expected to help anchor the secondary. At 6-1, he is big cornerback with a high football IQ.
He’ll almost certainly miss Saturday’s opener against Fresno State. USC should be fine without him (it’s not like the Bulldogs have Derek Carr any more), but the impact could be felt in the second game when the Trojans take on Stanford in a huge Pac-12 game.
“It is unfortunate that he’ll be sidelined for a while and we will miss his leadership and play, but I know he’ll be working hard to get back on the field as soon as possible,” Sarkisian told the school’s website.
Even USC’s rivals noticed the original version of the story.
UCLA coach Jim Mora tweeted: “Best wishes to Josh Shaw for a speedy recovery, what a stud, what a role model. #Hero #RealLifeStuff”
