Faysal Shafaat is one of 16 contestants on the new season of "Big Brother." (Photo from CBS.com)Former University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football player Faysal Shafaat was granted safety and was mentioned as part of a five-person alliance after the two-night premiere of the CBS reality show "Big Brother."
Shafaat's time playing for the Mocs from 2011-14 was featured during his introduction segment in Wednesday's Season 20 premiere. The former tight end showed off his conference championship rings and mentioned he "shattered every single receiving record there."
Shafaat, now a substitute teacher and football coach in Orlando, said he is out to show "there's more to me than a big-muscle guy with a big personality."
"Big Brother" follows a group of people living in a house, with someone being voted out each week.
Shafaat formed a quick bond with Chris "Swaggy C" Williams, another former college athlete, and it paid off. Williams won the show's first competition Wednesday; his reward was picking eight people to be safe from the show's first eviction. Williams had to choose two of the four groups of four houseguests that entered the house together. He picked his own group and then picked the group of four that included Shafaat.
"Me and Swaggy are boys so hopefully he keeps me safe this week," Shafaat said before Williams made his decision during a diary room session while wearing a Chattanooga football shirt.
In Thursday's episode, that relationship developed and Williams mentioned Shafaat as part of a five-person group he felt comfortable working with. The group also included Haleigh Broucher, Kaitlyn Herman and Angie "Rockstar" Lantry.
Shafaat was under the radar for the rest of Thursday's episode. The only eight competitors in the season's first Head of Household competition were the eight that are not safe from the first eviction.
One of the show's twists this season is an interactive aspect. Fans of Shafaat can interact with the CBS Messenger Bot and answer questions to help him trend and gain advantages in the game. Houseguests who trend the least on a weekly basis can also be punished. Visit the Big Brother page on CBS.com for more information.
The next episode of "Big Brother" airs at 8 p.m. Sunday.