MOULTRIE – Things did come full circle for John Samuel Shenker.

Not long after making a decommitment to one athletic program at Auburn University, the Colquitt County High senior received an offer from another. Just three days before National Signing Day, Shenker committed to that new offer with plans of joining the Southeastern Conference football team.

Heading to Packer baseball practice Monday, Shenker spoke about receiving the scholarship offer and making his official visit over the weekend.

“I got there on Friday and took a tour of the campus Saturday,” said Shenker, who played his first season for Rush Propst’s Packers as a tight end last fall after transferring from Deerfield-Windsor in Albany. “I committed Sunday morning in coach (Gus) Malzahn’s office.”

The irony of it is that Shenker, well before becoming a student-athlete at Colquitt County High, committed to Auburn as a baseball player. He decommitted, though, in order to weigh his options for college football. During his senior season for the Packers, that proverbial stock on the gridiron rose with 30 catches, 451 yards and two touchdowns.

“I think I’m going to catch (Auburn) at a great time,” said Shenker. “A lot of guys are coming back next year, a very talented group. I’m looking for great things this coming year and the next four years.

“(Malzahn) told me they would use me just as they used me here at Colquitt, in versatile ways.”

Shenker is also a couple of weeks away from the start of his senior baseball season for coach Tony Kirkland. College athletics had numerous stories over the years of players pulling double-duty successfully. The next question for Shenker is if this is a possibility at Auburn.

“I think it’s just football now,” he said. “That would be something I’d have to think of down the road. If I got settled down and I think I could do it … but as of now I’m going to stick with football.

“I’ll probably study business sports management.”

Shenker’s football offer came from Auburn’s new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey. Lindsey was hired from Arizona State the weekend before Shenker’s visit.

“I met him on Monday (July 23),” said Shenker. “He got hired on Saturday (Jan. 21), and I met him the next Monday in Albany. I was the first guy he offered. Being that he was the OC with coach Propst at Hoover (High) kind of helps to know where he comes from and what he can do with the offense. It’s really exciting.”

It’s more full circle for Shenker. His connections with Auburn didn’t start with athletic recruiting.

“I’ve been going to games since I was about 2 years old,” he said. “Sitting in my dad’s lap watching games. It’s kind of cool how all that transpired.”