Einstein Football Captain Signs with BSU

senior and former football team captain Jamil Shah has signed a national letter-of-intent to play college football next season at Bowie State University.

Shah, however, will have company when he enrolls at the Division II school later this year. He plans to bring along his best friend and former high school teammate, Joel Insilo.

“We’re both going over there and we’re going to play for them,” said Shah, who began playing football as a ninth grader at Einstein. “I like the whole atmosphere of Bowie [State University].”

Shah emigrated to the United States from Pakistan when he was only three years old, attending and before enrolling at Einstein as a ninth grader.

Shah considered several other colleges including Shepherd (West Virginia) and Indiana University of Pennsylvania but said that Bowie State’s proximity to his Silver Spring residence was a major factor in his decision to go there.

“In the end I think this was the best [college] for me because it’s close to home,” he said.

Bowie State competes in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The Bulldogs finished the 2010 campaign with a 6-4 overall record including a 6-1 mark in the conference.

“I’m really excited about playing for them,” Shah said. “It’s a pretty strong team. It’s a program [where] I would like to contribute.”

Shah toiled at center and defensive tackle during his high school career but is keeping his options open for college.

“Whatever the coaches want to put me at I’ll play,” said Shah, a 5-foot-11, 245-pound two-way starter at Einstein. “If they want me to play a different position I’m more than willing to play a different position.”

Shah said his best friend plans to make an impact on defense as a strong safety in the Bulldogs’ secondary.

“We can both push each other to be better next fall and hopefully make an impact at Bowie” he said.