After two years at Arizona State University and two trips through the transfer portal, redshirt senior Will Shaffer has found a home at ACU.

Shaffer was born and raised in Tempe, Arizona, where he went to Saguaro High School and compiled an impressive high school stat sheet That includes 139 tackles, 24.5 for a loss, 3.5 sacks and 2 interceptions while going 36-5 in three varsity seasons. 

Shaffer was recruited by ASU as a unanimous three-star linebacker, according to the major three recruiting services. 247 Sports ranked him as the No. 15 overall prospect in Arizona and the No. 23 ranked inside linebacker in the country.

In his four seasons at ASU, Shaffer was able to showcase his abilities most often on special teams coverage. In his first season at ASU, Shaffer blocked a punt against Oregon State University and returned it for 22 yards. This play earned him PAC-12 Special Teams Player of the Week as a true freshman. 

In three seasons with ASU Shaffer struggled to get consistent snaps as a linebacker but stood out as a special teams specialist. In his 2021 season, he played the seventh most special teams snaps out of any player in the Pac-12. He also finished as the seventh highest-graded special teams player in the conference. He followed up an impressive season when in 2022 he played 195 special teams snaps, finishing in the top 20 in the Pac-12. 

“Being at Arizona State, my hometown, for four years graduating there and not seeing the field as much as I wanted to made me realize I needed to make a change,” Shaffer said. 

After the conclusion of the 2023 season, Shaffer entered the transfer portal, choosing to continue his athletic career at Utah State University. 

Shaffer worked out with Utah State through the spring and after a late coaching change, was recommended to transfer out.

“They told me to leave. That was a really humbling situation,” Shaffer said. “Then Coach Dubin and [Head Coach Keith Patterson] hit me up and said, ‘We want you.’ It felt great being wanted again.”

Shaffer joined ACU’s team in the early summer of 2024 after his second trip through the transfer portal.

“He is just the kind of guy that we felt really fits our program as well as the university,” Patterson said. “He’s a tremendous kid.”

Shaffer joined the team after winter and spring workouts had finished and begun, which can often be a hard time to transition into a program. Shaffer jumped right in and capitalized on the opportunity he was given by ACU. 

“It impressed me how fast he became a part of this football team – how well-liked he is,” Patterson said. “It’s like he’s been here for two or three years. He just fits right in.”

Shaffer’s first season as a Wildcat has been one to remember. Through seven games Shaffer has recorded 61 total tackles, 27 of which unassisted, a fumble recovery and an interception to secure a win against the University of Central Arkansas. 

“He’s a college graduate from Arizona State University. He just brings maturity and a football acumen that is just off the chart,” Patterson said. “He’s very, very intelligent and has a high football IQ.” 

Shaffer showcased his high football acumen and IQ against UCA when he sealed the victory with an interception on the final drive of the game. UCA had run several plays similar to the one Shaffer intercepted the pass on. 

In his postgame press conference, Shaffer summarized how he had been beaten by their offense on the same play throughout the game. One big play Shaffer remembered caused a Wildcat defender to receive a targeting call late in the second quarter. 

“I just kept saying, ‘Dang, I know they’re gonna come back to it,’” Shaffer said. 

When the UCA quarterback rolled out on their final play, Shaffer made the read and recognized the play because of what he had seen from their offense throughout the game.

“The quarterback had been running the whole game so when he threw it I was just like, ‘Yeah, this is mine; I gotta have this one.’”

Shaffer added during his presser that he was thankful to be having fun playing football again and that the interception meant a lot to him because he was able to make the play in front of his father and younger brother who traveled to Abilene to watch the game.

After his two trips through the transfer portal, Shaffer will look to continue his impressive play as a Wildcat.