Chattanooga Mocs' Shafaat primed for College Gridiron Showcase

Former UTC tight end Faysal Shafaat, right, has been selected to participate in the College Gridiron Showcase all-star game Jan. 30 in Arlington, Texas, as he works toward his goal of playing in the NFL.
Former UTC tight end Faysal Shafaat, right, has been selected to participate in the College Gridiron Showcase all-star game Jan. 30 in Arlington, Texas, as he works toward his goal of playing in the NFL.

Whether it's a pass coming his way or the chance to catch the eye of pro scouts, Faysal Shafaat knows what to do with an opportunity. Grab it and run with it.

The former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga tight end has accepted an invitation to compete in the College Gridiron Showcase in Arlington, Texas, on Jan. 30. He will fly to Dallas next Monday to work out and practice for the week in front of NFL scouts and will have individual interviews with those scouts.

"It's a whole new mindset," Shafaat said. "Like coming from high school to college, you don't know what to expect. It's a different standard. Coming from a smaller school, I feel like I have something to prove. That's why this all-star game is more important: It gives me a platform to show what I can do against players from bigger schools.

"The game doesn't matter as much as the week of practice. It's huge for me to win my one-on-ones in blocking drills and getting separation in 7-on-7."

Not wanting to waste time before beginning to prepare for the next level, Shafaat went back home to Orlando, Fla., immediately after graduation in December, chose an agent and two trainers and began working out twice a day, six days a week.

Those workouts and a strict diet helped him lose five pounds, down to 244 on his 6-foot-4 frame, and improve his 40-yard dash times and his bench press.

"I feel a lot better because I'm concentrating solely on getting my body in shape," Shafaat said. "There aren't classes to worry about or anything like that now, so I'm just totally focused on being in the best shape of my life for these opportunities coming up. It's football twice a day, every day.

"You have to perform, of course, and do well during the interviews, but the first thing the scouts see is how in shape your body is. It's motivating, kind of like when you wanted to look good for girls at the beach. The facility where I work out has a couple of NFL guys and some other college guys getting ready for the draft, so you're competing against top guys. I ran routes with some other guys, receivers, looking to get drafted, and our trainer told me I didn't run like a tight end, I move like a receiver. That's encouraging."

According to several NFL draft websites, Shafaat's strengths are his speed and ability to make tough catches in traffic.

UTC will have its pro day for Shafaat, a two-time FCS All-American who had 34 catches for 413 yards and five touchdowns this past season, as well as for defensive linemen Derrick Lot and David Tull and running back Keon Williams in early March. Scouts from almost every NFL team are expected to attend.

Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.

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