Marshall University Athletics
MCGILL: Ahmed blossoms in time for Texas homecoming
10/15/2021 11:03:00 AM | Football, Word on the Herd
Receiver has enjoyed breakout over last three football games
By Chuck McGill
HerdZone.com
DENTON, Texas – Here in the Lone Star State, where football and Friday night lights have been the subject of television and film, is where Shadeed Ahmed grew up on and off the field.
Ahmed, who is 6 feet tall and 172 pounds, was mostly overlooked while playing at Foster High School, a prep football powerhouse located outside of Houston, about five hours south of where Marshall will face North Texas at 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.
Ahmed is now a blossoming star in the Thundering Herd's offense, compiling 18 receptions for 225 yards and his first two collegiate touchdowns in the past three games. Last season, Ahmed caught six passes for 38 yards. An injury to starting slot receiver Talik Keaton opened the door for Ahmed, who capitalized on the opportunity by setting a career high with seven receptions two weeks ago and a career best 81 receiving yards at Appalachian State. Last Saturday, Ahmed tied a career high in receptions and scored for the second consecutive game.
Tonight, he returns to his home state as a focal point of one of the nation's best offenses.
"Shadeed has been the young man I've been the hardest on since I got here in January because I saw something in him," first-year Marshall head coach Charles Huff said on his weekly radio show. "All through the winter, all through the spring – every time he started jogging, I was on him. Every time he walked, I was on him. Every time he looked tired, I was on him.
"I saw a skill set in a young man – a long, wiry, fast guy with really good hands; he's got the ability to change direction; he can contort his body into some weird places. I knew at some point the fast he matured the better football team we would be. I knew he could bring an element to our offense that everybody now sees."
Ahmed was born in Houston and then moved to Florida before his earliest memories kick in. When he was 13 years old, Ahmed's family moved to Richmond, Texas, which is located near Houston. Ahmed found a home on the football field at Foster, and for two seasons Ahmed played junior varsity while future first round NFL draft pick CeeDee Lamb made dazzling plays for the varsity team. Lamb was a 4-star recruit who played collegiately at the University of Oklahoma. Ahmed didn't draw the same level of interest and first headed to Navarro Junior College before landing at Marshall.
"I learned a lot from CeeDee," Ahmed said. "He graduated in 2017 and I was in the Class of 2019 so I got to watch him for two seasons. That's motivating."
The talented Ahmed has received most snaps in the slot in Keaton's absence, but he can play all three positions, if needed.
"Talik, I'm always learning something from him," Ahmed said. "He's a coach out there, really. It definitely opened up an opportunity to show what I can do. The coaches believe in me, but we have so many guys who can make plays that it's sometimes hard to get everybody in."
Marshall, which is 3-3 overall and 1-1 in Conference USA, has leaned heavily on Ahmed in the passing game the past three weeks. He had five receptions through three games before the breakout performance at Appalachian State on Sept. 23.
"The way he worked and the way he responded … he allowed himself to mature in the role we're starting to see him in and I'm looking forward to having him in a bigger role," Huff said.
Tonight, that bigger role will come in Ahmed's home state. It is the perfect time for a homecoming to the place where his football journey began.
"Football has always been big in Texas," Ahmed said. "Here, everybody rallies around you. Being from Texas definitely prepared me for college. I'll be fired up."
Chuck McGill is the Assistant Athletic Director for Fan/Donor Engagement and Communications at Marshall University and a nine-time winner of the National Sports Media Association West Virginia Sportswriter of the Year award. In addition to HerdZone.com's Word on the Herd, McGill is the editor of Thundering Herd Illustrated, Marshall's official athletics publication. Follow him on Twitter (@chuckmcgill) and Instagram (wordontheherd).
