Mobile native Marvin Shinn is used to getting all the attention from his opposing defenses,
being double-teamed on almost every single play. Shinn just told his quarterback to keep
throwing to him no matter what. Next thing you know, Shinn has five yards of separation from
his defenders and makes a spectacular catch. It’s not cockiness, it’s confidence.
The 6-foot-3 receiver has a lot of frame to add on some weight to an already 180-pound body
and coach Kerry Stevenson saw his ability to play quarterback but he feels receiver is the best
fit for him in the future.
“We've known since day one that he was the best quarterback on campus,” Stevenson said.
“But it's not the position he's comfortable with or the position he wants to play. With
the ball in his hands, he's incredible.”
Shinn even admits that the receiver position is the best fit for him.
“I started out playing wide receiver and I got addicted to it,” Shinn said. “When I got to
high school, they started talking to me about playing quarterback, and I was already liking
wide receiver.”
Shinn committed to play for the Tide before the 2010 class had even signed. He felt
confident in his early decision and wanted to get it out of the way and focus on his next two
seasons. Fast forward to the national championship game where Bama’s running game was the
dominant force; Shinn seemed to waiver on his commitment to the Tide after watching a lack of
a passing game from the Tide’s offense.
During the offseason, Shinn had a talk with Coach Saban, who reassured him that Alabama was
going to get it into his hands. Saban explained McElroy’s rib problem and the difficulty of
establishing a passing game because of the injury. Saban did promise that they would throw the
ball a lot more this year and, so far, Saban has not backed out of his word. Now Shinn’s
commitment is as solid as ever.
It was announced earlier this fall that Shinn will now be representing the state of Alabama
along with Crimson Tide teammate Danny Woodson in the 2010 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic
which will take place on Saturday, Dec. 11 at Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Shinn will be able
to showcase his talent along with other top in-state talent against Mississippi’s best talent in
a contest that has recently been dominated by the Alabama side, which has won 10 of the last 12
contests.
Shinn is listed as a four-star prospect by Rivals.com and is the No. 8 prospect as a wide
receiver in the country. In 2009, Shinn had 38 catches for 812 yards and 12 touchdowns, 70
carries for 442 yards and three touchdowns and completed 16 of 35 passes for 372 yards and two
scores. He also scored six two-point conversions.