AUBURN, Ala. – A lifelong Auburn fan, John Samuel Shenker juggles academics while playing football and baseball on the Plains.
For the senior tight end from Albany, Georgia, his dreams have come true in more ways than he could have imagined.
"I grew up two hours from here, so my dad and I would always go to games together," Shenker said. "I've always loved Auburn and it's always been my dream to come here. Once I got the opportunity for baseball, which was first, I was all over it."
Things took a little twist in his junior year of high school at Colquitt County High, when he decommitted from baseball and chose to fully pursue football, committing to play football at Auburn later that year. Once he got to Auburn and played football for a couple of seasons, he saw an opportunity to simultaneously pursue his baseball dreams starting in 2020.
"I talked to both teams' coaches and they came to an agreement," he said. "Ever since then, it's been a roller coaster, but it's been really awesome."
That roller coaster includes an SEC football championship appearance, a pair of Iron Bowl victories, a cancelled SEC baseball season due to COVID, and everything in between.
Shenker has delivered some big moments in both sports: a 26-yard reception in a road win over Mississippi State in 2018, a 9-yard touchdown reception at Georgia in 2018, a crucial 6-yard touchdown reception in the road upset of Texas A&M in 2019, and several key pinch-hits in baseball.
Holding the runner: first baseman John Samuel Shenker joined an exclusive fraternity of two-sport Auburn athletes
While on-the-field success is what all collegiate players dream of accomplishing, Shenker has some additional goals for the final chapter of his story on the Plains.
"I want to try to establish myself as a leader in the locker room," he said. "I'm not a super vocal guy, but I just want to try to be someone that the younger guys can look to and ask questions. I want to be able to guide guys in the right direction that leads to the most success."
Friendship and chemistry make a team stronger and no one understands that concept better than Shenker.
"I really don't want to have any strangers in the locker room that don't know me," said Shenker, a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll. "That's not a good environment for a football or baseball team. I try to connect with each guy, including new guys coming in, like the walk-ons or transfers. I feel like every guy in the locker room feels comfortable knowing they can come and talk to me whenever.
"I just try to reach out to every single person and let them know how appreciative I am that they're here and the opportunity that we have in front of us."
Opportunity is an important word to the senior, who realizes what a special role he's had on both teams.
"Take advantage of your opportunities," he said. "Not many people get this opportunity, and it's a blessing to have it. Any time in life you get an opportunity to do something special you have to take full advantage, and that's what I've tried to do so far."
Things may look a little different for Shenker and the other football seniors this year, but the opportunities remain the same.
"The energy level is different," he said. "The new coaches have come in and supplied that energy early on. Coach Harsin comes in as a blue-collar guy that knows how to win, but he's also here to grow young men, too. You have to be able to adapt to changes throughout life, and I think our guys have adapted well."
Being able to adapt and be flexible is essential when you are a multi-sport student-athlete, Shenker says.
"I think I'm pretty good at time management now. I hope I don't eat my words, but I don't think I can get any busier than I am right now," he said. "It's taught me that you just have to keep moving, you can't look too far ahead, and you can't look backwards. You have to focus on the day that you're in and make the most of it."
Shenker completed his bachelor's degree in finance, graduating from Auburn University's Harbert College of Business in May. He plans on staying busy in the upcoming months by completing an additional degree in information systems management. Long-term, Shenker plans to be a financial analyst or a stockbroker, but not before he gives a career in sports a shot.
"I just want to enjoy my last year here," he said. "These are the best times of your life, so I'll worry about that when football season is over."
This football campaign will be the last of his seven total sports seasons in Auburn. Shenker wants Auburn fans to know that he has appreciated their support during every single one of them.
"The atmosphere and love that they have shown me over the four years that I've been here is second to none," he said. "This community is very loving and supportive. Being a part of that is something I'll cherish forever. I hope that one day I can do the same for the people that come behind me and show them what being a part of the Auburn Family truly means."
Shenker, as well as many of his teammates, looks forward to a normal season together with Auburn fans.
"There's nothing like a packed-out Jordan-Hare Stadium," he said. "It's super exciting to know that we get to do that again."
Lawrence Merrill is a student worker in Auburn Athletics media relations