Kenny Shaw’s mom, Sandy, was by her son’s side at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital on Saturday night and she sent a text message that read, “KJ is looking good.”

Kenny Jr. was going to be OK. Moms always know.

After gaining hospital clearance following x-rays and tests, the Florida State receiver returned to Doak Campbell Stadium for the final three minutes of the Seminoles 23-13 loss to No. 1-ranked Oklahoma. He walked off the field at the end of the game looking quite healthy.

Early Sunday morning, Shaw sent a text message that read, “I’m good.”

He also posted on Twitter this morning, “Im up feelin good even though i was robbed of 2 tds last night …..love all my supporters though. Ima keep ballin no matter what.”

But it didn’t exactly appear that way early in the second quarter of the No. 5 Seminoles’ battle with the Sooners.

As the Florida State receiver lie motionless in the end zone at Doak Campbell Stadium, there was plenty of frenzy going on around him.

He caught an E.J. Manuel pass in the end zone, everyone thought.

He dropped the ball after hitting the ground, again, everyone thought.

So, Florida State touchdown, right?

The play was ruled an incomplete pass. Fans wanted a review. That part was upheld, incomplete pass, no touchdown.

And meanwhile, Shaw remained motionless, his arms still extended as if he was holding the ball. He had taken a ferocious hit from a pair of Oklahoma defenders and the replays showed the hit to be far more vicious than anyone had thought.

The helmets of both Oklahoma cornerback Javon Harris and linebacker Tom Wort met simultaneously at the neck of Shaw and the crunch knocked him out immediately. He was unconscious for quite a long time before leaving the field on a cart.

Harris was actually flagged with a personal foul on the hit. During the long wait as Shaw was tended to on the field, Harris said it was tough knowing Shaw was lying in that condition after his play.

“You’re just hoping he’s OK, first,” Harris said. “We all play this game … we play hard. So you’re hoping to see that he’s OK, but you’re also anxious to get back on the field to continue to play.

“It’s hard. It’s the game of football and we know coming into this game that it’s going to be like that sometimes. But I’m just glad to know that he made it out OK.”

Shaw was able to briefly give a thumbs-up signal to the crowd on his way out.

It turned out to be a huge turning point in the game. Not only had the Seminoles not scored a touchdown, but Shaw was out of the game.

He was the hot receiver at the time. He already had two catches, as well as a diving catch for a touchdown in the first quarter that was brought back due to a holding penalty.

Four plays after Shaw left the field, Wort struck again, intercepting a Manuel pass and the Seminoles’ threat was thwarted.

In the heat of the moment as he walked off the field at halftime, FSU coach Jimbo Fisher said, “We dropped the touchdown down there, got a big hit … I hope he’s all right.”

In the second half, Harris struck again, intercepting back-up quarterback Clint Trickett. He had intercepted a Manuel pass in the first half.

Harris was a one-man demolition crew. He had big hit after big hit and had to be he defensive MVP for OU.

“With all the rules and stuff it’s hard to know whether to go low or high. Sometimes it’s hard to see that so I just go out there and play my hardest,” Harris said. “It’s a blessing and I just thank God for giving me the opportunity to go out there and make those plays.

“As a defense I think it shows the rest of the country we’re here to stay. I think it set a tone for the rest of the season.”

Harris finished with three tackles and numerous hits you won’t find on the stat sheet.

“I told my coach when I came here that I was a hitter,” said the junior safety. “I told him I wanted to learn the safety position and I have. I think I proved that tonight.”

On Sunday afternoon Shaw, in reply to a text message asking if he was sore today, typed, “A lil. … ima bounce back though.”

Chris Hays is the Sentinel’s recruiting coverage coordinator and can be reached at