Might Shannon start in 08?

Xavier Shannon is transferring to Miami and the fifth year senior will likely have an excellent chance of becoming the team's starting center in 2008.

Xavier Shannon, nicknamed "Zay", will get to play his fifth and final college season for his father. Shannon is expected to start grad school at UM in the fall.

It's on the gridiron, however, that has Canes fans most interested. Shannon will be a fifth year senior with three years of starting experience at the Division 1 level under his belt. Plus, he plays a position where the Hurricanes will be thin entering the 2008 season.

With the graduation of Jon Rochford, the Canes are looking at A.J. Trump and freshman Tyler Horn to compete for the starting job.

The addition of Shannon will provide them with even more competition. He was a first team All-Dade pick as a senior at Coral Gables High. He wasn't heavily recruiter, however, and signed with FIU. After redshirting his freshman year in 2004, Shannon played in eight games as a redshirt freshman in 2005, starting five of them (four at guard, one at center). He then started all 12 games at center as a sophomore in 2006 before starting all 12 games this past season, mainly at tackle.

Shannon, who was listed at 6-foot-1 and 312 pounds, brings lots of experience the Hurricanes are lacking at that position. He brings a lot of versatility and he brings ideal size (the best centers in this school's history were in the 6-1 range).

There's no telling how good Shannon will be. He may never play a down here. However, don't just think he's coming to be part of his father's roster. He's likely coming in with a golden opportunity to become the team's starting center in 2008.

Trump and Horn just got better because of this. That may sound strange but it's because more competition was added to the mix and that'll likely make both of them work even harder and become better players themselves in doing so.

Shannon, who will count as a walkon, is expected to begin his UM career in the fall so don't look for him in spring practices.