Now that his career at Penn State is over, Tim Shaw finally has a chance to catch up with an old acquaintance.

Shaw, who has already graduated, has been working out at middle linebacker in preparation for the NFL Draft this spring. Shaw played defensive end for Penn State this year, but routinely matched up against offensive linemen 20 to 60 pounds heavier.

Shaw played middle linebacker in Sunday night's Hula Bowl in Hawaii, helping the Aina team to an 18-10 win against the Kai team, a squad featuring Boise State quarterback Jared Zabransky.

Fellow Penn Staters Jay Alford and Ed Johnson also played in the annual all-star game. But with their positions solidified as defensive linemen, Johnson and Alford don't pose quite the question marks that Shaw does.

In his time in Happy Valley, Shaw has been shuffled more than a deck of cards in Vegas. He came in as a halfback before moving to middle linebacker and then switching to defensive end.

Now, though, he's working out strictly at middle linebacker, training in Orlando with Tom Shaw, considered to be one of, if not the best, trainer in the country. Tom Shaw has trained more than 85 first-round picks, including four No. 1 overall picks.

Tim Shaw hopes NFL scouts trust that he can make an impact as a linebacker despite that before Sunday, he hadn't played the position since the 2006 Orange Bowl. But more so, he understands that there are no guarantees with the draft. Right now, he doesn't even know how he'll stack up against the competition.

"I have no clue, but I'll tell you what. I'm working like crazy and I'm going to work like crazy to make sure I get picked," Tim Shaw said. "I could sit here and tell you all those things, but bottom line, a lot of things could change between then and now."

Despite his small build for an end, 6-foot-1 and 237 pounds, Tim Shaw finished the season second on the team with seven sacks, earning an honorable mention on the All-Big Ten Team.

While Tim Shaw wants to play linebacker, he's hoping his versatility can make him more attractive. Still, he knows the move kept him from showing off his skills as a linebacker.

"In one way, I haven't been able to show my full potential," he said. "That can be good or bad also. Hopefully, teams believe, as I believe, that I have my best football ahead of me."

Tim Shaw is represented by Scott Smith of X-A-M Sports & Entertainment. The company has 10 current clients in the NFL, including Pittsburgh Steelers' cornerback Ike Taylor and New York Jets' fullback B.J. Askew.

Smith said Tim Shaw will use February's combine in Indianapolis as another opportunity to impress scouts at linebacker.

"It's too early to do a round projection right now," Smith said. "He's working out in Orlando with Tom Shaw, who's the top trainer in the country, and he's going to be prepared really to go and have a great combine in Indianapolis. I'm confident that he's going to maximize his full potential."

But while Tim Shaw knows his future isn't set, he at least likes that he's back at his favorite position, something he compared to an old acquaintance.

"Happy to be back. It's been a while but someone said it was like reuniting with an old friend," Tim Shaw said. "We're getting to know each other again."