The Columbus Dispatch

The funniest Ohio State player — no joke

- Lori Schmidt

Do you ever Google yourself?

Every now and then. More so just looking up kind of my highlights from my high school and stuff. But I’m not really into myself like that. But every now and then I will, yeah.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen said about you on the internet?

Somebody asked if I cut my own hair, which I thought was weird. I don’t really know what the deal is with that. I just Googled it, like you said, and it showed a tweet that said, “Does Bryson Shaw cut his own hair. If he does, he needs to learn how to cut his hair.” I thought it was funny. I didn’t take offense. I thought it was funny.

Do you cut your own hair? It looks nice for the record.

Usually my Mom cuts it…

Oh, no! They inadverten­tly insulted Mama Shaw?

No, this was not one of her haircuts. When I got to school, you know she can’t come up here all the time, so I was trying out new places, and I did not like the haircut myself. So I thought it was funny. I thought the tweet was funny. My most recent haircut, Cade Stover, tight end on the team, one of my best friends, his dad actually cut my hair.

What is the deal with lacrosse players doing so well playing football?

It’s a fast sport. There’s a saying for it: the fastest game on two feet. That’s true. … And it’s physical. People who don’t follow lacrosse, they don’t realize how physical of a game it really is. Most of my injuries growing up came from the game of lacrosse. It’s a physical game. You’re running and you’re hitting, so it translates to the football field as well.

What is the most fun you’ve ever had away from football and lacrosse?

One year my family, we went to the Bahamas — Atlantis. And I’m not a big roller coaster guy or water slide guy, and I’m terrified of heights. And there’s this,

it’s called the Leap of Faith. Big, big like pretty much straight-down water slide. I didn’t want to go on it. My sister is trying to get me to go on it with her. I get up there, and I’m young, young. So I get up there, and I’m scared, crying, all this stuff. I got on it, and I would say I probably got on it 15 more times that day. Ever since then, whenever I get a chance to get on a water slide, I still get nervous, but they give me a thrill. So, yeah, that was probably the most fun I’ve had on a vacation or something.

What is your greatest fear? Is it heights?

Yes. Yeah. It’s definitely heights. I used to be really scared of the dark. My buddy back home, he lives about three doors down, and I live kind of in the country, so it’s not like here where it’s kind of light out. It’s pitch black. I used to run back and forth from his house at night. I used to be pretty scared of whatever monsters are out there, I guess. So I would say the dark, but I’ve grown out of

that just from running back and forth. I just overcame my fear with that.

Did you have a really cool nightlight, though?

Yeah. Yeah, I had this, it was like this — I don’t even know how to describe it. It was just like a little ball and it lit up all different types of colors. I would just shake it and start running. I was, I’d say, 8 or 9 when that happened. It was pretty cool.

If you had to estimate, what percentage of your friends are not athletes?

Not too many. I like being with kind of like-minded people, and I would love to have friends outside sports, but this is kind of my life. When I’m with guys who are playing sports, it helps me be more motivated, I would say. But if anyone wants to be my friend who’s not an athlete? I’m here.

If you could get an NIL deal with any company out there, which one would it be?

I would say something to do with fitness, health. My dad a few years back, he got (stage IV prostrate) cancer. So he had to change his lifestyle. He’s pretty much beaten it now. He’s OK now, but I’ve learned a lot from him. Just seeing him battle through that has really inspired me. Seeing what all these great doctors can do, and stuff like that. Fitness, health: that’s what he’s really been about, especially since he got sick. So it’s really been around me most of my life.

How old were you when your dad fell ill?

Freshman in high school. … He’s a guy who’s really come from nothing. Like, nothing. And he’s built a great life for my family. It’s a great thing.

What does he do now?

He sells paper. He knows way too much informatio­n about the different types of paper. He does a great job.

What does your mom do?

She’s an estheticia­n. So hair, facials, stuff like that.

I should have known because of the lovely haircut.

Yeah, right!

Do you have a nickname?

Some of the guys around here call me B-rabbit. When I first got here, Damon Arnette, we were kind of messing around with each other, and somehow the movie “8-Mile” popped up. And Damon started calling me Cheddar Bob; and eventually, that just turned into Brabbit.

Because why wouldn’t it?

Yeah, and my name starts with a B, so that works out, I guess.

What are you better at than anyone on this football team?

I would say I’m pretty funny, but don’t ask me to make a joke! Because I’m not the kind of guy to come up with a joke. I’m the kind of witty guy who will come up with something fast if you say something to me. So I would say I’m pretty funny, one of the more funny guys on the team — once you get to know me.

 ?? JOSHUA A. BICKEL/COLUMBUS DISPATCH ?? Ohio State’s Bryson Shaw saw action in five games as a redshirt freshman in 2020, including a victory over Rutgers.
JOSHUA A. BICKEL/COLUMBUS DISPATCH Ohio State’s Bryson Shaw saw action in five games as a redshirt freshman in 2020, including a victory over Rutgers.

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