Shaver to remain on USU football coaching staff

Kendrick Shaver, Utah State football defensive backs coach

<strong>LOGAN, Utah –</strong> Kendrick Shaver, who helped Utah State to a No. 18 national ranking, a school-best 11-2 record, and to its first outright league championship since 1936 and its second bowl win in Aggie history in 2012, will remain on the USU football coaching staff it was announced Thursday by head coach Matt Wells.

“I’m happy to announce Kendrick Shaver staying on staff here at Utah State,” Wells said. “Kendrick has demonstrated a passion for the well-being of his players socially, academically and on the football field during his time at USU. His players continue to perform at a high level and they have done a great job in the classroom as well.”

Shaver, who was named FootballScoop’s Co-Defensive Backs National Coach of the Year in 2012, has spent the past two seasons on the Utah State coaching staff, where he mentored a pair of all-Western Athletic Conference defensive backs this past season, including one All-American.

“I’m excited to remain on staff at Utah State and be able to continue to work with the young men in this program that I have built relationships with over the past two years,” said Shaver. “Coach Wells and I both came to Utah State at the same time and had a great relationship from our first day together, and we both anticipate that relationship continuing to grow with him as the head coach.”

During the 2012 season, Shaver helped Utah State’s defense rank among the top 15 in the nation in five different statistical categories, including being ranked first in the Western Athletic Conference and eighth in the nation in scoring defense (15.38 ppg). USU also ranked second in the WAC and eighth nationally in sacks (3.23 pg), first in the WAC and 10th in the nation in pass efficiency defense (104.43), second in the WAC and 12th in the country in rushing defense (113.77 ypg), first in the WAC and 15th in the nation in total defense (322.08 ypg), and first in the WAC and 34th in the nation in passing defense (208.31 ypg).

Utah State’s defense also led the WAC and ranked third in the nation in red zone efficiency at 63.6 percent allowing just 13 touchdowns and 15 field goals on 44 trips inside the 20, while blocking two field goals, intercepting six passes, recovering one fumble, and turning the ball over on loss on downs seven times.

Utah State’s defense also ranked seventh in the nation forcing 5.08 three-and-outs per game in 2012, while ranking 21st nationally in third down efficiency at 32.88 percent (73-222).

Highlighting Utah State’s defense in 2012 was senior cornerback Will Davis who was named a third-team All-American by CBSSports.com, a fourth-team All-American by Phil Steele, and an honorable mention All-American by SI.com, not to mention earning first-team all-WAC honors under Shaver. Davis also became the third Aggie in the last four years selected to play in the Senior Bowl in January.

In 2012, Davis ranked second in the nation in passes defended (1.69 pg) and 24th in interceptions (0.38 pg). As a senior, he intercepted a pass in five-straight games, which was the longest streak by a USU player since 1973. Davis also returned an interception 59-yards for a touchdown against Idaho for USU’s first pick-six since 2007. In all, Davis’ five interceptions in 2012 were the most by an Aggie since 2003, while his 100 interception return yards ranked tied for seventh all-time at Utah State for a single season.

Davis, who earned WAC Defensive Player of the Week honors twice in 2012, concluded his senior campaign ranking seventh on the team with 64 tackles (46-solo, 18-assist) and tied for seventh with 4.5 tackles for loss. He also had three quarterback hurries to go along with his 22 passes defended and team-leading five interceptions.

Junior cornerback Nevin Lawson also earned all-WAC honors under Shaver in 2012 as he was named to the league’s second-team after ranking tied for ninth in the conference in passes defended (0.77 pg) and tied for 31st in tackles (4.8 pg). Lawson finished his junior year eighth on the team in total tackles with 63 (47-solo, 16-assist), to go along with 4.0 tackles for loss, two sacks and 10 passes defended, not to mention one fumble recovery and one quarterback hurry.

During his first year at Utah State in 2011, Shaver’s cornerbacks helped anchor an Aggie defense that finished the year ranking first in the WAC and 50th in the nation in total defense (366.23 ypg), second in the WAC and 31st in the nation in rushing defense (127.70 ypg), second in the WAC and 53rd nationally in tackles for loss (5.92 pg), third in the WAC and 48th in the nation in pass efficiency defense (125.58), and third in the WAC and 59th in the nation in sacks (1.92 pg).

Under Shaver, Utah State’s cornerbacks had three of the top five tacklers on the team in 2011 led by Lawson and Jumanne Robertson who ranked fourth and fifth on the team in stops with 73 and 48, respectively. Robertson ended the season leading the team with 12 pass break-ups, while Lawson was second with 10. Lawson also had one interception and one fumble recovery in 2011.

Prior to joining Utah State’s staff, Shaver spent four years (2007-10) as the secondary coach at Northern Colorado. Shaver was also the secondary coach, recruiting coordinator and academics monitor at Northeastern Oklahoma A&amp;M (2006), and defensive and special teams graduate assistant at Eastern Kentucky (2004-05). He began his coaching career at Hillcrest (Mo.) High School, where he coached defensive backs and wide receivers in 2002.

A native of Eufaula, Okla., Shaver played two seasons (1998-99) at Northeastern Oklahoma A&amp;M Junior College before transferring to Missouri State, where he was a free safety and cornerback in 2000 and 2001. With 11 pass break-ups in 2001, Shaver is presently tied for No. 6 on MSU’s single-season pass defense list. Shaver spent the 2003 season playing for the Sioux Falls Storm of the NIFL before committing to coaching full-time.

Shaver graduated from Missouri State with a bachelor’s degree in business in 2002 and went on to earn his master’s degree in physical education in 2005 from Eastern Kentucky.

 

<strong><span style=”text-decoration: underline;”>Kendrick Shaver File</span></strong>

<strong>Coaching History:</strong>

2011-               Utah State – Cornerbacks

2007-10           Northern Colorado — Secondary

2006                Northeastern Oklahoma A&amp;M — Secondary/Recruiting Coordinator/Academics Monitor

2004-05           Eastern Kentucky — Defensive &amp; Special Teams Graduate Assistant

2002                Hillcrest (Mo.) HS — Defensive Backs/Wide Receivers

 

<strong>Bowl Games:</strong>

Utah State – Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, 2012; Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, 2011

<strong> </strong>

<strong>Conference Championships:</strong>

Utah State – WAC, 2012

<strong> </strong>

<strong>Playing Experience:</strong>

1998-99           Northeastern Oklahoma A&amp;M — Free Safety

2000-01           Missouri State — Free Safety/Cornerback

<strong> </strong>

<strong>Education:</strong>

2002                Missouri State — Business (B.S.)

2005                Eastern Kentucky — Physical Education (M.S.)

<strong> </strong>

<strong>Birthdate:</strong> Dec. 5, 1978 in McAlester, Okla.

<strong> </strong>

<strong>- USU -</strong>

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!