Shelton Embraces Being In The Center Of All The Action
September 07, 2017 | Football
By Mark Moschetti
Being at the center of it all is perfectly fine with Coleman Shelton.
Then again, being at left guard or right tackle works just as well.
The point is this: Wherever the versatile fifth-year senior sets up on the offensive line, he can be counted on to get the job done for the Washington Huskies.
"I always looked at it as wherever I can help out the team, I'll play," Shelton said after an early-August practice in 90-degree temperatures on the field adjacent to Husky Stadium. "I didn't want to limit myself to playing one thing, so I've tried to play as many as I can.
"But I definitely like center a lot."
The UW definitely likes having him there – and with good reason.
Shelton is coming off the best season of his career, having started all 14 games at center to help the Huskies go 12-2, win the Pac-12 Conference championship, and advance to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
His work was rewarded with second-team All Pac-12 honors. He also was voted the team's Lineman of the Week for the season-opening victory against Rutgers, and the conference title game win against Colorado.
"It's definitely something I'll remember for the rest of my life," Shelton said of the wildly successful 2016 campaign. "It was exciting, it was historic – it was cool to be a part of."
"But now, we can't really think about that. We have to get ready to go for this season."
Shelton, whose name was on this spring's watch list for the Rimington Trophy (presented annually to the country's top center) is doing exactly that — and his linemates are following suit. For a stretch of several years, the o-line hadn't been the Huskies' strong suit. But, things took a turn for the better last fall — and the 6-foot-4, 299-pound Shelton, who essentially is the leader of the group, is expecting even more improved play in 2017.
"Confidence, definitely. Not swagger," he replied when asked which of those two qualities best described the preseason mood down in trenches. "We're definitely an offensive line that has built years on years with each other. So everyone knows each other pretty well. Even the young guys coming in are fitting in well. We just feel like a good unit."
Being part of that unit was far from a given for Shelton. Despite earning numerous accolades during his days as a two-way lineman at Loyola High School in Pasadena, Calif. (he was rated the No. 19 center in the country by rivals.com), he was very lightly recruited.
"It was definitely a long process," he said. "I got an offer from Washington, and I committed right away."
Offensive line coach Scott Huff, beginning his first year with the Huskies, said it's not unusual for players of Shelton's quality to slip through the cracks – and they often make themselves into even better players because of it.
"As hard as everyone thinks they work at recruiting and leaving no stone unturned, it still happens," he said. "Coleman came in with a chip on his shoulder. He's smart and tough – and those two things make a good offensive lineman any day."
Appreciative of his opportunity, "I wanted to come up here and play as hard as I could for the chance to help this team out and return Washington to glory," Shelton said.
After not playing as a true freshman in 2013, Shelton saw action in 13 games the following autumn – all at right tackle – with seven starts. In 2015, he started all 13 games: two at left tackle, two at left guard and nine at right guard. At season's end, Shelton was presented with UW's John P. Angel Lineman of the Year Award.
Finally in 2016, Shelton won the starting center spot, a position he still covets more than any other.
"I feel like I fit well here," he said. "I get to command everything. It's something that fits my personality and the way I like to play football.
You get to command, make the calls, tell pretty much everyone where we're going, or just start the communication."
Huff agrees that the position and Shelton's personality are just the right combination.
"It plays to his strengths, and certainly to his leadership ability, the way he sees the field and kind of commands the whole thing," he said. "He's our field general. He can play a lot of positions, but that (center) position in particular really breeds those attributes – and he has them."
Shelton has certain attributes in the classroom, as well. He has completed all requirements for his degree in sociology, and was named Academic All Pac-12 honorable mention following the 2016 season.
But some of his favorite coursework still takes place on the football field. Huff can see that versatility has been a terrific teacher for Shelton.
"I've been fortunate to coach one or two guys who have played different positions," he said. "It has really helped him out with where he is right now with his game and understanding the offense."
Even under those searing temperatures during the first week of fall practice, Shelton's exuberance made it clear that he was ready to play a game right then and there.
"We feel good together, and we're just happy to be back on the field and excited for the season to get here," he said. "We're real confident in ourselves right now."
A bright guy such as Shelton no doubt has given some thought to his future, both on and
off the field.
For now, however, the future is nothing further away than the next drill.
"We just have to work toward winning every day and winning each practice, each rep, each down," he said. "I just know that I love to play football, and I love being out there with the guys
next to me. And I have fun every day when I go out there."
Especially now that he's at the center of it all.
Being at the center of it all is perfectly fine with Coleman Shelton.
Then again, being at left guard or right tackle works just as well.
The point is this: Wherever the versatile fifth-year senior sets up on the offensive line, he can be counted on to get the job done for the Washington Huskies.
"I always looked at it as wherever I can help out the team, I'll play," Shelton said after an early-August practice in 90-degree temperatures on the field adjacent to Husky Stadium. "I didn't want to limit myself to playing one thing, so I've tried to play as many as I can.
"But I definitely like center a lot."
The UW definitely likes having him there – and with good reason.
Shelton is coming off the best season of his career, having started all 14 games at center to help the Huskies go 12-2, win the Pac-12 Conference championship, and advance to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
His work was rewarded with second-team All Pac-12 honors. He also was voted the team's Lineman of the Week for the season-opening victory against Rutgers, and the conference title game win against Colorado.
"It's definitely something I'll remember for the rest of my life," Shelton said of the wildly successful 2016 campaign. "It was exciting, it was historic – it was cool to be a part of."
"But now, we can't really think about that. We have to get ready to go for this season."
Shelton, whose name was on this spring's watch list for the Rimington Trophy (presented annually to the country's top center) is doing exactly that — and his linemates are following suit. For a stretch of several years, the o-line hadn't been the Huskies' strong suit. But, things took a turn for the better last fall — and the 6-foot-4, 299-pound Shelton, who essentially is the leader of the group, is expecting even more improved play in 2017.
"Confidence, definitely. Not swagger," he replied when asked which of those two qualities best described the preseason mood down in trenches. "We're definitely an offensive line that has built years on years with each other. So everyone knows each other pretty well. Even the young guys coming in are fitting in well. We just feel like a good unit."
Being part of that unit was far from a given for Shelton. Despite earning numerous accolades during his days as a two-way lineman at Loyola High School in Pasadena, Calif. (he was rated the No. 19 center in the country by rivals.com), he was very lightly recruited.
"It was definitely a long process," he said. "I got an offer from Washington, and I committed right away."
Offensive line coach Scott Huff, beginning his first year with the Huskies, said it's not unusual for players of Shelton's quality to slip through the cracks – and they often make themselves into even better players because of it.
"As hard as everyone thinks they work at recruiting and leaving no stone unturned, it still happens," he said. "Coleman came in with a chip on his shoulder. He's smart and tough – and those two things make a good offensive lineman any day."
Appreciative of his opportunity, "I wanted to come up here and play as hard as I could for the chance to help this team out and return Washington to glory," Shelton said.
After not playing as a true freshman in 2013, Shelton saw action in 13 games the following autumn – all at right tackle – with seven starts. In 2015, he started all 13 games: two at left tackle, two at left guard and nine at right guard. At season's end, Shelton was presented with UW's John P. Angel Lineman of the Year Award.
Finally in 2016, Shelton won the starting center spot, a position he still covets more than any other.
"I feel like I fit well here," he said. "I get to command everything. It's something that fits my personality and the way I like to play football.
You get to command, make the calls, tell pretty much everyone where we're going, or just start the communication."
Huff agrees that the position and Shelton's personality are just the right combination.
"It plays to his strengths, and certainly to his leadership ability, the way he sees the field and kind of commands the whole thing," he said. "He's our field general. He can play a lot of positions, but that (center) position in particular really breeds those attributes – and he has them."
Shelton has certain attributes in the classroom, as well. He has completed all requirements for his degree in sociology, and was named Academic All Pac-12 honorable mention following the 2016 season.
But some of his favorite coursework still takes place on the football field. Huff can see that versatility has been a terrific teacher for Shelton.
"I've been fortunate to coach one or two guys who have played different positions," he said. "It has really helped him out with where he is right now with his game and understanding the offense."
Even under those searing temperatures during the first week of fall practice, Shelton's exuberance made it clear that he was ready to play a game right then and there.
"We feel good together, and we're just happy to be back on the field and excited for the season to get here," he said. "We're real confident in ourselves right now."
A bright guy such as Shelton no doubt has given some thought to his future, both on and
off the field.
For now, however, the future is nothing further away than the next drill.
"We just have to work toward winning every day and winning each practice, each rep, each down," he said. "I just know that I love to play football, and I love being out there with the guys
next to me. And I have fun every day when I go out there."
Especially now that he's at the center of it all.
Players Mentioned
OL
/ FootballTuesday, June 02
Saturday, May 02
Tuesday, April 21
Monday, April 20
