For A’Shon Riggins, playing college sports was always in the plans.
The 6’0 junior just never thought it would be on the gridiron.
Riggins dominated the hardwood in a stellar four year basketball career at Hamilton High, setting the Big Blue all-time assist record while scoring over 1000 career points.
Yet, when decision time came for colleges, Riggins turned his back on hoops and welcomed the challenge of playing corner back for Indiana University in the always rugged Big 10.
“To be honest, I never had a dream of someday playing Big 10 football, ” Riggins said. ” I never really thought about playing football in college. It was always going to be basketball but when IU offered I felt football was going to offer me a bigger opportunity than what I was getting in basketball. Everyone expected me to play college basketball and I was kind of doubted in football so when I got this chance I took it as a challenge to show what I could do.”
Riggins said it is different playing big time football, acknowledging it is a bit overwhelming at times.
“Yeah, sometimes I am like ‘Wow, I am playing football in the Big 10’,” Riggins said. “It is nice and at times I can’t believe it but I am taking advantage of the playing time and academics.”
Riggins maintains over a 3.0 GPA, majoring in sports marketing and management but doesn’t’ hide his excitement over the upcoming season for the Hoosiers after missing most of his sophomore year with a concussion.
Riggins had a fantastic freshman year at IU, earning honorable mention BTN.com All-Freshman honors. Riggins started eight games and played in all 12 games as a freshman, collecting 37 tackles, one sack, one interception (in the Horseshoe against then No. 2 ranked Ohio State) and twice was named the IU defensive player of the week. His highlights included two pass breakups in a win over No. 17 Michigan State and in a tough loss at No. 10 Penn State.
Concussion issues held Riggins to only six games a year ago but he said he is ready to go for the 2018 campaign.
“I am 100% back.’ Riggins said. “I have been full go all spring and played in the spring game. It was tough to sit. I felt like I was at a point where I was really getting the defense. The injury really threw me back into reality. I know I can’t take time for granted.”
Riggins was special mention all-state as a senior at HHS and earned all Greater Miami Conference honors his last two years for the Big Blue. Riggins still holds the Big Blue’s single game receiving record with 10 passes caught and HHS coach Chad Murphy said Riggins has to be considered one of Hamilton’s best dual sport athletes.
“(A’Shon) was not only a phenomenal athlete but work ethic and his character set him apart,” Murphy said. “He is just a down to earth humble young man.”
Murphy said Riggins persistence set him apart, telling a story about a trip home from the Bloomington campus.
“There was a penny stuck in a cigarette lighter and we needed to charge the phone and couldn’t plug the phone in due to the penny. A’Shon spent an hour on it and got it out. He is a persistent dude,” Murphy said.
Former HHS hoops coach Sean VanWinkle echoed Murphy’s thoughts.
“I was fortunate enough to coach A’Shon for two years,” Van Winkle said. “Nothing was given to this young man. He worked extremely hard in sports but more importantly off the court as well. I firmly believe the values and demands that were put on this young man during his four years at Hamilton High and his ability to accept them is the reason he is excelling in the Big 10.”
While thoughts of a possible NFL career isn’t a distant reality, Riggins said he would be fine to graduate and coach.
“Yeah, if I got the opportunity to play in the pros it would be nice but even if I don’t Indiana University has set me up to find a great career, ” Riggins said. “What would be satisfying to me would be to coach football and basketball.”
The Hoosiers begin the season 9/1 at Florida International University. IU’s home opener is 9/8 against Virginia.