ROME, Ga. – Having proven himself one of the best NCAA Division II defensive backs in the country, Shorter junior safety Jordan Shaw can now be considered one of the top players at his position among all of the nation's small colleges by being named to The Associated Press Little All-America Team that picks the cream of the crop from Division II, III and NAIA programs.

The recognition for Shaw, who earned Second Team honors, comes a week after he was named to the prestigious American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches' All-America Team and once again adds to a length list of awards the Jasper, Ga.-native has received.

Last month, the 6-foot-2, 215-pounder who has only been playing in the Hawks' secondary for the last two season – he came to Shorter as a quarterback – closed out the regular season by being selected as the Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Year and the league's only All-GSC First Team defensive player to be a unanimous choice.

Shaw was also tabbed as a finalist for the second annual Cliff Harris Award that is sponsored by the Little Rock (Ark.) Touchdown Club and presented to the nation's top small college defensive player from almost 500 NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA colleges and universities.

Earlier this week, he was selected to the Beyond Sports Network Division 2 Football All-America First Team, that award coming on the heels of being a BSN All-Super Region 2 pick.

One year after moving from the offensive side of the ball to defense – he led the Hawks in tackles in 2013 – Shaw wasted little time establishing himself as the best safety in the conference this season, leading the league with eight interceptions for 118 yards, including a 100-yard return for a touchdown he turned in against non-conference for Mars Hill, a game in which he picked off a record three passes. 

Shaw became the 15th player in GSC history with at least eight interceptions in a season and just the seventh player to take back a miscue for 100 yards.  Shaw did not stop there, ranking third in the GSC in total tackles (89) and fourth in tackles per game (8).

The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder was the only defender in the conference to be a unanimous all-conference defensive back selection by the GSC's coaches, became just the fifth-ever defensive back to be named the GSC's top defensive player and the first since 2001 after emerging as a force to be reckoned with in the Hawks' secondary.

All told, Shaw – his eight picks was the most for Shorter in a season and gives him 10 career interceptions – ended the season leading the team with 53 solo tackles and 36 assists and also forced two fumbles.

Only one other GSC player appeared on the AP Little All-America team as Valdosta State placekicker Andy Pistelli was selected.