Shipley Shape

THE LIST: FAU Football Commitments

The most recent recruit to commit to FAU isn’t concerned that, at the moment, FAU doesn’t have a head football coach.

To Hanner Shipley, it’s the assistant coach that recruited him who matters.

“I really liked the O-line coach there,” Shipley said. “I think he really knows what he’s doing.”

Garin Justice, FAU’s offensive line coach, convinced Shipley, a 6-foot-5, 300-pound offensive tackle from Blinn College, a junior college in Texas, to make an official visit to FAU this past weekend. During that visit, which occurred roughly one week after FAU relieved coach Charlie Partridge of his duties, Shipley committed to FAU.

He intends to sign with the Owls on Dec. 14 when the junior college signing period opens.

Shipley’s decision wasn’t spur-of-the-moment impulse. Before taking his official visit, Shipley studied video of FAU’s offensive line play from last year, comparing it to the year prior.

“I just saw this huge improvement in their technique and the way they played,” Shipley said. “I like to do my research.”

The weekend visit to Boca Raton cemented in Shipley’s mind that FAU was the place for him.

“I went there and just fell in love with the campus and the ocean, the people their and the guys on the team,” Shipley said.

Knowing that he’ll be paving the way for the likes of Devin Singletary, Buddy Howell and company didn’t hurt his decision to commit, either.

“I look forward to blocking for those great running backs,” Shipley said.

Shipley began his college career as a tight end at LSU before transferring to Blinn, where he transitioned to left tackle.

“I did not like the team environment there,” Shipley said of his single season in Baton Rouge. “The older guys did not treat the younger guys well.”

Upon arriving at Blinn, he put on some weight while retaining the athleticism and aggressive play that made him a Power Five recruit.

The transition came relatively easily to Shipley, reinforcing his opinion that he could become an NFL-caliber offensive lineman.

“At the end of the day I realized that I can go the further playing tackle,” Shipley said.

But first he must finish his college career, which still has two years of eligibility plus a redshirt year, if needed.

Nevada, Southern Miss, New Mexico and Texas St. also offered Shipley.

“I want to make sure that whoever the new coach is realizes I committed there while (the current) coaching staff was there,” Shipley said.

And if the new head coach decides to bring with him an entirely new staff?

“To me, I think I have good reason to believe that the offensive staff is going to stay,” said Shipley, who intends to enroll at FAU for the spring semester. “If the staff gets fired, I’ll have to make a big decision about what I’m going to do then.”