OP, just look if he's trying to be around you alot, searching after you, such things. Also, winks, unexpected "free" smiles, general excitement around you. Random acts of kindness. Also >>3.
>SO, last day of class, after the final I'm thinking if I should stick around and maybe talk to him-- luckily I get a call from someone and ASK, and she smartly replies: "then he'll know you like him. No leverage. Leave. Let's go." And I end up dating someone awesome and respectful and fun.
You make it sound like he's not someone awesome and respectful and fun, which as far as I know you have no idea about. He might have been even more awesome and respectful and fun, but just too shy to approach you. Not that I'm saying that you should have regrets or anything, heh. I just don't like very much the way you make it sound.
That said, there was a girl in highschool I acted with like the guy you described. I'm quite the easygoing guy but whenever she was in sight it was shock and awe. Couldn't get to talk to her because, well, I don't know. My mind just blanked. Last day of school as I was waiting for my grandfather to pick me up she waited at the bus stop right across the street where I waited. Some people from our class walked on her side on the sidewalk and loudly joked at her "hey what are you waiting for there's no bus today".
Spent like ten minutes sitting on this wall and I couldn't move. Was trying to do something, anything but I was paralysed, for real. I still don't understand what happened to me, I won't ever know if she would've rejected me, whatever. Well just telling you that his problem was not necessarily to blame on him, and that it doesn't impede to his other qualities.