Sam Shade was not the most decorated member of the 1992 Alabama secondary which terrorized college defenses, but he was certainly the most physical.
The hard-hitting Shade was a prototype in-the-box safety -- comfortable supporting the pass, while cleaning up the running game as a sure tackler. Those were skills he took to the NFL for eight seasons, where he rang up 563 tackles (116 solo,) 8.5 sacks, 3 FF and 10 interceptions.
Shade did not come to Alabama on an athletic scholarship, although the Birmingham prospect was certainly recruited. He was on an academic scholarship with the Tide.