Disclaimer: As the 2020 current football season still is technically set to proceed as planned in Manhattan on Sept. 5, we will continue the Countdown as normal for now.

#66 Sam Shields

True Freshman | 6-4 | 292 lbs. | Manhattan, Kansas

Courtesy Kansas State Athletics

• Position: Offensive Line
• Previous College: None
• Projection: Redshirt
• Status: On Scholarship (starting this fall)

Samuel A. Shields (b. December 26, 2001) is a promising hometown offensive guard/tackle prospect from Manhattan High School who “blueshirted” with K-State in the Class of 2020.

Shields (not to be confused with the former Green Bay Packers cornerback of the same name) enrolled early in time for spring practices and plans on majoring in business administration. His mother, UCF grad Jill Shields, is a deputy athletic director for K-State.

Shields played under head coach Joe Schartz at Manhattan, where he was rated the 85th-best offensive guard in the Class of 2020 by ESPN, while 247Sports ranked him No. 88.

He helped the Indians to earn a 9-2 record in his senior year as they advanced to the state quarterfinals. Manhattan went 10-2 and advanced to the state semifinals in his junior year.

Shields was named a first-team all-state performer by The Topeka Capital-Journal, The Wichita Eagle and the Kansas Football Coaches Association as a senior, despite an injury. He also earned first-team all-area honors and was selected to play in the Kansas Shrine Bowl.

Shields chose K-State over offers from Kansas, North Dakota State and South Dakota, plus interest from Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, South Dakota State and Wyoming.

His primary recruiters were his position coach, Conor Riley, and head coach Chris Klieman.

I could profile Shields as a recruit, but why bother when Drew did such a better job of it?