DaytonDailyNews.com

KETTERING — Running back Michael Shaw, a key player during Alter High School's run to the Division III state football championship game last month, withdrew from school Monday and likely will enroll at Trotwood-Madison.

Alter Athletic Director Chris Hart confirmed that Shaw withdrew. Trotwood AD Jim Ladd said that Shaw met with Trotwood guidance office personnel, but lacked the necessary paperwork to submit a transfer request.

Neither Shaw, Alter football coach Ed Domsitz nor Trotwood football coach Maurice Douglass returned calls for comment.

Shaw, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound junior, teamed with brothers Chris and Corey Roark, and quarterback Steve O'Donnell in a punishing veer-option attack. Shaw rushed for 975 yards during Alter's

14-1 season that ended with a 34-33 loss to two-time defending state champion Steubenville in the state final at Massillon.

Domsitz labeled Shaw the state's best returning running back following the Steubenville loss.

"Michael is one of the most talented players in the junior class in the state of Ohio," he said. "He loses out in notoriety because of the offense we play. He brings a lot of creativity and intensity to the game, and he's a serious blocker."

Against Steubenville, Shaw went for 57 yards rushing on nine carries, including a 42-yard scoring dash. He also had a 50-yard TD reception and returned two kickoffs for 20 yards.

Trotwood had seven transfer starters last season: C.J. Peake, Jonathan Saine and Mike Page (all from Meadowdale), Myke Sawyer (Jefferson), Roy Roundtree (Belmont), Carson Byrd (Stivers) and Tyson Patrick (Wayne). The 7-4 Rams lost, 35-12, to Edgewood in the first round of the D-II playoffs.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2381 or mpendleton@DaytonDailyNews.com. Ron Jackson contributed to this story.