What will Auburn football RB transfer Shaun Shivers’ role be with Indiana?

Sometimes when you love someone, you have to let them go. Former Auburn football running back bruiser Shaun Shivers spread his wings and took flight into the transfer portal and has now found a home.

Earlier today, Shivers announced that he’d be taking his talents to the Big Ten, shipping up to Bloomington, Indiana to be a Hoosier.

Here is a first look at the former change of pace Tigers RB in his Hoosier crimson and cream:

It’s hard not to want to see Shivers reach new heights in the Midwest after receiving inconsistent playing time on the Plains during his senior season.

One of the many Tigers that may have had gripes with former Auburn football OC Mike Bobo’s usage in the running game, Shivers has the chance to make an impact with an Indiana program that is looking at some big changes a season removed from a near Big Ten Championship game appearance that was taken because of the conference’s preference to force Ohio State into the contest despite not having enough wins to qualify.

Michael Penix has entered the transfer portal and could be looking to join Gus Malzahn with the UCF Knights. Who knows if the Hoosiers offense is going to be as heavily focused on the pass game with the Tampa product’s big arm no longer moving the chains for IU?

Shivers has the benefit of sliding into departing grad student Stephen Carr’s spot on the depth chart. Then again, if Indiana is shifting towards a run-heavy offense, 4-star Class of 2022 recruit Gi’Bran Payne and Davion Ervin-Poindexter, who was nominated for the Burlsworth Trophy, an award for “the most outstanding football player in American who began his career as a walk-on,” figure to be the primary backs.

Shivers could find enough burn to at least replicate his 2020 stats, though, assuming the Hoosiers don’t land a big transfer portal arm themselves. That’s something he would have had trouble doing on the Plains contending with Tank Bigsby (assuming he doesn’t transfer himself), Jarquez Hunter, and incoming 4-star Damari Alston.