THOMASVILLE — After a great senior season that saw him catch a career high in touchdowns, Thomasville’s star receiver Cole Shaw signed his letter of intent to play football at Mercer.

“I’m ecstatic for Cole,” said Bulldogs head coach Jonathan DeLay. “He’s a great kid, a tremendous football player, works really hard. Mercer’s getting a steal. He’s just one of those well-rounded kids who you’re excited to see get this opportunity.”

Shaw, who’s been playing football and dreaming of this day since he was 11, said it was the coaching staff that drew him to the Bears of Mercer.

“Definitely the coaching staff and the culture they’ve had,” Shaw said. “Coach Cronic has done just a great job. I really want to be a part of what he’s built there.”

DeLay said that Thomasville will miss the competitiveness and the work ethic of Shaw. Those intangibles are also the things that make Shaw such a great fit for the Bears.

“Just his work ethic. He’s always trying to be the best at everything that he does whether it’s school or athletics, football, weight room. Whatever it is he’s trying to be the best and he’s trying to push himself to be better than all the competition,” DeLay said. “He’s going to be that guy that leads by example. He’s going to show everybody exactly what it is that you’re supposed to do, how you’re supposed to go hard on every single rep. Whether it’s a rep in individual, a rep on the bench press, a rep in team or a rep in the game. There’s never any let up to him.”

Mercer had a great season this year, finishing 9-4 and 6-2 in conference play. They had good wins over solid programs including Samford and number ten ranked Western Carolina. Mercer made it to the second round of the FCS playoffs, where they fell to number one ranked South Dakota State.

Of course, Mercer is known for more than just football. They are a very respected academic school, something that Shaw and DeLay both noted as a factor in the receiver’s decision.

“It’s not just the football it’s the education too” said DeLay. “You come out of Mercer and people call you boss.”

“Not only playing for a great program, but being able to go to a great school is a big thing for me,” Shaw said. “Football doesn’t last forever so, being able to go on and be proud of your school is a big deal.”

Shaw will get his first taste of college football on August 29 when Mercer begins their 2024 campaign against Presbyterian.