Blue White Illustrated

F or someone whose favorite Penn State eateries are the Diner, the Creamery and R.U. Hungry, Antonio Shelton has found that the most di4cult aspect of his new strength and conditioning program is the meal plan. Having played his senior season at be- tween 270 and 280 pounds, the defensive tackle from Gahanna, Ohio, weighs about 295. He's not sure exactly how much his new coaches want him to arrive at in June, but he knows they're prioritizing burst and quickness as much as – if not more than – size. And right now, he said, "I'm moving like I was when I was like 280." Hence the new diet, which Shelton said has been the "hardest part" of his accli- mation to Big Ten football. "One percent milk is new to me," he said, laughing. "I'm also eating a lot more in the mornings – just a lot of lean meats, brown rice and veggies. I'm not allowed to eat processed foods, so that means no fast food. It's not that bad, once you get used to it. Sometimes when I smell those fries, though, I get so tempted, man, you wouldn't believe." Choosing rice and beans instead of fried potatoes – that's a challenge that Shelton can accept, no matter how tempting they might seem at 2rst. He's seen enough ob- stacles during his route to college football, and changing his eating habits pales in comparison to some of what he's gone through. In this incoming freshman class, there are players who went undefeated, won state championships or were in the hunt. At the least, the majority of those players were on teams that 2nished at or near the top of their league standings, pushing to- ward playo3 berths. Not included in that group is Shelton, who played for Westerville North High in suburban Columbus. As a senior, Shelton's team 2nished win- less, losing every game by a touchdown or more, and the Warriors didn't fare much better during his junior season, as they only won two. The head coach re- signed in November 2015 when Shelton was still verbally committed to Illinois and couldn't be reached for comment for this story. In talking about the lack of success his team achieved on the football 2eld, however, Shelton takes a unique perspective, one that's been shaped by personal loss. "I don't take it personally," he said. "Trust me – we get enough mess from our own community. Obviously, not win- ning isn't fun, but I don't have any regrets about my high school career. I went out there with my teammates and gave my best e3ort, and so did everyone else. I never let not winning destroy my hope. It made me play with a chip on my shoulder and made me work harder." That mentality helps explain how a win- less team can still produce a Division I prospect with a half-dozen scholarship o3ers. "It's not where you start," Shelton said. "It's where you 2nish." A hardship more serious than any 11- game losing streak made his 2nal two sea- sons of high school even more complicated, and that was the loss of a good friend. During his sophomore year, one of Shel- ton's classmates, best friends and biggest supporters took his own life. Before his suicide, he had attend almost every West- erville North home game, and Shelton re- members him as the loudest cheerer in the student section. It was a devastating loss for the com- munity, so for the next two seasons Shelton honored his friend the best way he knew how. He wrote his initials – "TJC" – on his cleats and gloves for every game and put a dedication tattoo on his lower leg. Prior to kicko3 of every Westerville North game, Shelton would kneel to pray before Whirlwind recruitment lands Shelton at PSU | U P C L O S E & P E R S O N A L CLICK HERE to see video of Shelton in action. THE SHELTON FILE STATS Finished with 54 tackles, 10.5 sacks and two forced fumbles as a senior at Westerville North High... Had 31 tack- les, three sacks and one forced fumble as a junior... Was a three-year letterman and a team captain in 2015... Let- tered one season in wrestling HONORS Named a three-star recruit by Rivals.com, as well as the No. 52 player in Ohio... Named to the Associated Press's second-team All-Ohio Divi- sion II squad following senior season... Also won All-Central honors from the AP... Named to the 2015 American Family Insurance All-USA Ohio Football second team Penn State Athletics

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