Leading UNLV football to title is goal for draft prospect Tiger Shanks

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Monday, July 8, 2024 | 2 a.m.

Less than three years ago, UNLV offensive lineman Tiger Shanks was on an island.

The then-redshirt freshman found himself starting at right tackle for a Week 3 matchup against Iowa State, and though the game was at Allegiant Stadium, the vast majority of the 35,000 in attendance were visiting Cyclones partisans. And they let it be known, drowning out UNLV’s offensive huddle at every opportunity.

Inexperienced and caught in a frenzy of hostile fans, Shanks had perhaps the worst game of his career. He was flagged for three holding penalties, and UNLV quarterbacks were sacked three times on his watch. In the running game, the Scarlet and Gray managed just 40 yards on 31 carries (1.3 yards per attempt).

It was an overwhelming experience, and one Shanks still remembers.

“That was not my best game,” Shanks recalls with a chuckle. “Three holds in one game? Yeah, that’s rough.”

UNLV lost that game, 48-3, and went on to lose its first eight games of the season before finishing 2-10.

For Shanks, it was a low point, but also a launching point. The 6-foot-5, 325-pound Oregon native has since developed into UNLV’s best offensive lineman, spearheading a dominant rushing offense and helping drive the Scarlet and Gray toward the top of the Mountain West.

Along with the team’s fortunes, Shanks has also seen his NFL draft stock rise dramatically since that lonely night in 2021.

The way he sees it, that is not a coincidence.

“Looking back on it, I’m thankful I had to go through those experiences as a young player,” Shanks says. “Obviously, no offensive lineman wants to give up three holds in one game, but getting thrown into the fire as a young guy, it helps you later in your career. You take your licks and overcome the adversity.”

Shanks has come a long way since he signed with UNLV back in 2020. Coming out of high school in Lake Oswego, he was rated as a 3-star prospect, ranked as the No. 183 tackle in the nation. He had just five offers: Idaho, Idaho State, Sacramento State, San Jose State and UNLV.

Following a redshirt year and that shaky freshman season, he has found his legs. Shanks has now started 36 games at UNLV, mostly at right tackle, and he was voted first-team All-Mountain West following his 2023 campaign.

He allowed just one sack last season while paving the way for the Scarlet and Gray ground attack to rack up 166.2 yards per game and 39 rushing touchdowns, good for No. 2 in the country. And there were certainly no three-hold games.

UNLV offensive line coach Vance Vice believes Shanks’ experience — the good and the bad — has helped mold him into the blocking machine he has become.

“Physically, he’s got everything you look for in terms of length, size, strength,” Vice says. “And being a three-year starter, there aren’t any fronts or blitzes he hasn’t seen. I don’t have to worry about missed assignments with him. He’s one of the best guys at being able to come to the sideline and convey information as to what’s really happening out there. That’s so valuable to an offensive line.”

How far has Shanks come from that Iowa State game? On June 26, a tweet from a popular college football social media account listed him as the 25th-best tackle in the nation entering the 2024 season. That provides an interesting benchmark, as the 2023 NFL Draft saw 24 offensive tackles selected.

UNLV hasn’t produced a draft pick since 2010. Most observers expect senior receiver Ricky White to break that drought next April, but he may have company if Shanks can continue ascending.

Shanks is trying to keep his focus on the 2024 season, but like most young men, he is aware of the good press he’s receiving.

“I saw that,” Shanks says of the tweet. “It’s an honor to be on lists like that and be in those rankings because of the growth I’ve had. The way I look at those types of lists, it’s really ranking what you did before. It’s awesome to be on the list, but it doesn’t matter unless you produce next season.”

Shanks is in position to pump his draft stock even higher in 2024. UNLV is loaded on offense, and every pancake block will open more eyes among the scouting community. He even has a favorite play call: Inside zone, which gives him an opportunity to showcase his power in must-have situations.

“Anytime they call inside zone to my side, I take pride in that,” he says. “I’ll tell the coaches, too. If it’s third-and-1, fourth-and-1, goal line, I want the ball behind me. It’s just something about when I hear that play get called and I know they’re relying on me, it’s something I really love.”

Vice knows NFL talent when he sees it. He has coached offensive linemen who have gone on to play in the NFL, including former Virginia Tech tackle Christian Darrisaw, who was the No. 23 overall pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2021.

Based on his work with prior draft picks, Vice thinks Shanks could have a future in the pros.

“I believe Tiger will have a shot,” Vice says. “Being around some guys with prominent careers, the feedback I get most from the NFL (scouts) is they want to love how you practice. Obviously you’ve got to have the ability, but they want guys they have to tell to slow down instead of speed up. Extra is the norm. Tiger has that.”

Shanks has taken on added responsibility this offseason, his second under head coach Barry Odom and offensive coordinator Brennan Marion. A naturally soft-spoken personality, Shanks has become more vocal on and off the field, especially when working with younger teammates.

In June, Shanks was part of the veteran core that put UNLV through its player-led practices when coaches weren’t allowed to be on the field due to NCAA rules.

When training camp opens in August, he will be where he always is, at right tackle, opening rushing lanes and protecting the pocket for one of the nation’s most explosive offenses.

While the NFL is a real possibility, Shanks is trying to keep his mind on the task at hand.

“It’s definitely in the back of my head. My dream is to be able to play in the league one day. I talk to coach Vice about it. He has a lot of guys that have gone the distance and are still active (in the NFL) to this day, so I listen to him a lot.

“But I just try to be where my feet are,” Shanks says. “I don’t want to be looking too far forward and then miss what’s right in front of my face. Once time has passed and the season is over, at that point my focus will switch to what the future will hold. But for now, I’m really focused on this season.”

Shanks has come a long way from that penalty-laden night in 2021 and hearing his number called on the loudspeaker over and over again. In his mind, there’s only one appropriate way to end his college career.

“It’s the Mountain West championship,” he says. “We came up short last year and that stung really bad. Now we feel like we have an end goal in mind. That’s the No. 1 goal.”

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.