Furman University

Honors & Awards
2023 Preseason All-Southern Conference (1st Team)
2023 Team Co-Captain
2022 All-Southern Conference (2nd Team - Coaches)
2022 Southern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week (vs. Wofford)
2021 All-Southern Conference (2nd Team - Coaches)
2021 All-Southern Conference (2nd Team - Media)
2019 Southern Conference All-Freshman Team

2023 — Elected by his teammates as a co-captain..named to the Preseason All-Southern Conference 1st Team as selected by the coaches...ranked by Hero Sports’ Sam Herder as the No. 15 cornerback in FCS...40 starts, nine interceptions, and 24 passes defensed in his career are first among returning players.

2022 — Earned starts in 12 of the Paladins’ 13 games and was named second team All-SoCon in balloting by the coaches for a second consecutive season...played a pivotal role in Furman’s 10-3 season that featured a stretch of seven consecutive wins and an at-large bid to the FCS playoffs, where the Paladins claimed a 31-6 first round home win over Elon...10 wins represented the most by Furman since 2005...team finished a consensus 10th in final AFCA and Stats Perform Polls...campaign was fueled with strong work by Furman’s defense, which led the FCS in turnovers gained (29) and interceptions (18)...helped the Paladins rank first in the SoCon in scoring (20.2 ppg) and red zone defense (71.7 percent, 28x39), and post league best (low) completion percentage defense (58.5)...also helped key strong special teams play that saw Furman top the FCS with 10 blocked kicks (6  FGs, 2 PATs, 2 punts)...credited with 46 tackles, including six for-loss, and an interception, which he returned 41 yards for a touchdown at VMI (41-3 win)...pick-six versus VMI was the second of his career (vs. Point, 2019)....also had four breakups and two forced fumbles...registered six tackles against Western Carolina (47-40 win)...third quarter forced fumble set up touchdown that proved to be the game winning points in a 21-10 road triumph over The Citadel...returned two blocked punts for a total of 95 yards, including one for 65 yards and a touchdown, versus Wofford (63-28 win)...work earned him SoCon Defensive Player of the Week honors...delivered a 15-yard tackle for-loss (and forced fumble) on a second quarter fake field goal attempt by Elon, helping Furman preserve a 14-3 lead.

2021 — Earned playing time and starts in all 11 games at cornerback...consensus second team All-SoCon selection in balloting by head coaches and media...52 tackles ranked third on the team...tied for the SoCon lead with five interceptions...10 passes defensed and two fumble recoveries both ranked fifth in the league...recorded a season high nine tackles and fumble recovery versus Western Carolina...had eight tackles and a pickoff against The Citadel (24-14 win)...had eight tackles and a fumble recovery versus N.C. State...picked off two passes and registered 50 yards in returns in a 26-0 win over Tennessee Tech...opened the season with a six-tackle performance that also included a sack, a forced fumble, an interception, and a pass breakup in a 29-18 win over 24th-ranked North Carolina A&T.

2020 — Saw action in and made starts in six of Furman’s seven games (spring of ‘21)...exited the VMI game early with a strained hamstring and sat out the following week’s game against Samford (44-37 OT win)...credited with 21 tackles, interception, and four pass deflections...tallied a season high nine tackles to go along with an interception and pass breakup versus Mercer...had five stops and pass deflection versus ETSU (17-13 win).

2019 — Fashioned an impressive first full season of action, earning playing time in all 13 games and making 13 starts at cornerback...credited with 51 tackles, sack, two fumble recoveries, and a pair of interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown...earned SoCon All-Freshman Team honors...played a key role in leading Furman to an 8-5 record, at-large berth to the FCS playoffs, and No. 19 ranking in the AFCA Coaches final poll...squad topped the SoCon in scoring defense and passing defense...registered four tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble in his first collegiate start against Charleston Southern (46-13 win)...recorded another forced fumble (and six tackles) the next week against Georgia State...notched his first career interception against Virginia Tech (24-17 win)...credited with a season high eight tackles against ETSU (17-10 win)...had a fumble return 40 yards against VMI (60-21 win)...stepped in front of a pass that he returned 49 yards for a touchdown in the regular season finale against Point (64-7 win).

2018 — Saw limited action in four late season games, thus qualifying for a redshirt and extra year of eligibility...notched his first tackle against VMI (49-13 win).

High School: 2018 graduate of football powerhouse Benedictine (2A) Military School...football coach was Danny Britt...starred as a running back, wide receiver, and defensive back on state championship teams his sophomore and junior years, and played a key role in a program record 24-game winning streak...served as a team captain and earned Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Georgia Sportswriters Association (1st Team) All-State honors as a running back in 2017 after pacing Class 2A in scoring (174 points)...rushed 123 times for 1,444 yards and 19 touchdowns...averaged 11.7 ypc...also caught 26 passes for 548 yards and seven scores...ran 18 times for 200 yards and three touchdowns, and had two touchdown catches in a 45-0 win over Metter...posted 218 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 11 carries in a 70-21 second round playoff win over Jefferson County...registered three interceptions his senior year...also specializing in the triple jump and 4x100m relay.

Personal: Full name is Travis Sentell Blackshear, Jr....born May 25, 2000, in Savannah, Georgia...son of Lakisha Freeman and Travis Blackshear, Sr....has a sister, Dynesha, and brothers, Grant and Michael Jackson, Jr...May 2023 graduate with a degree in Asian studies.