Former USC defensive back Josh Shaw ready for next step in NFL draft process

Former defensive back Josh Shaw went through several drills Wednesday during USC’s pro day workout and then expressed remorse about his handling of a situation that led to his 10-game suspension from the team last season.

Shaw, 22, lied to school officials about how he suffered ankle injuries on the eve of the season opener. He said he had been injured attempting to save a young relative who was in distress in a swimming pool. But he later acknowledged that he had jumped from a balcony at his apartment complex to avoid police, who had been called to investigate a possible domestic violence incident.

Shaw spoke to Los Angeles Times columnist Bill Plaschke about his actions last year, but had not addressed the Los Angeles media since he was reinstated before the UCLA game.

“When people go through things, they sometimes look back and say, ‘Well, ‘I’m glad I went through that because I’m stronger now,’ ” Shaw said. “For me, that’s not the case. I truly regret everything I did.”

Shaw played the final three games for the Trojans, and then impressed talent evaluators during the East-West Shrine game and the Senior Bowl.

Shaw said he met with NFL personnel during the run-up to those postseason games and also during the NFL scouting combine last month in Indianapolis.

“I look them in the eye and tell them the truth — tell them everything that happened,” Shaw said, adding, “It’s just about being very candid with them and let them see me for who I really am.

“And let them know that the mistake I made was really out of character and, most importantly, that I’ve learned from it.”

Shaw said it hurt to watch the Trojans lose games to Arizona State and Utah last season, knowing he might have made a difference. But he repeated that he only had himself to blame.

“I think it was just more so the fear in not wanting to disappoint my family in any way shape or form -- and of course, myself being a guy who was never in trouble before,” Shaw said, when asked why he had lied. “I didn’t want to be seen in that light, so I tried to come up with something, of course, crazy. It was bizarre and I paid for it.”

Shaw ran the 40-yard dash in 4.44 seconds at the combine and bench-pressed 225 pounds 26 times.

Shaw said he felt “good vibes” from his meetings with NFL teams and that he has a full schedule of private workouts leading up to the draft.

Asked if anything good had come from his experiences last season, he said, “Yeah, just tell the truth. The truth will set you free.”