Shaw settling into new niche at Colonial Life.

Connor Shaw knows what it's like to face and overcome challenges. The winningest quarterback in University of South Carolina history recorded 27 victories while throwing for 6,074 yards and 56 touchdowns (with just 16 interceptions) and compiling a school-record completion percentage of 65.5% from 2010-2013.

So anyone, including current Gamecock QB Jake Bentley, would do well to listen to his advice.

Shaw is now a sales representative for Columbia-based supplemental insurance company Colonial Life after injuries cut short an NFL career that included a 2014 start for the Cleveland Browns in which he completed 14 of 28 passes for 177 yards. On Thursday, he joined Gamecocks men's basketball coach Frank Martin and Cody Gibson, a former Gamecock lineman who is also now a Colonial Life agent, to kick off the 16th year of a partnership that began in 2003 when the company secured the naming rights to Colonial Life Arena, home to Martin's Gamecocks and Dawn Staley's 2016-17 national championship women's team.

"Last time I checked, the building I get to call home is named after this company, so that partnership means the world to me," Martin said. "I know it means the world to the people I work with and for."

Martin and Shaw addressed the crowd and watched a short promotional video that will be shown at halftime of USC football games this season, on football coach Will Muschamp's weekly show and at Gamecock men's and women's home basketball games.

And, of course, Shaw talked a little football.

Having stood in Bentley's cleats, Shaw understands the pressure on the senior quarterback as the Gamecocks open the 2019 season on Saturday against North Carolina in Charlotte. Bentley is 19-13 as USC's starter and has amassed 7,385 passing yards but is just 1-10 against ranked teams and has thrown 30 picks to go with 54 TDs.

"He just needs to control the controllables and compete his tail off each week, do his job Monday through Friday so he can go play well on Saturday," Shaw said as Gamecock mascot Cocky high-fived fans on the lawn of Colonial Life's campus off Bush River Road. "That's having great practices, that's putting your guys in position to have success around you, and...