Scott Shanle

Scott Shanle

No. 54, 58
Position:	Outside linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(1979-11-23) November 23, 1979 St. Edward, Nebraska
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	245 lb (111 kg)
Career information
High school:	St. Edward (NE)
College:	Nebraska
NFL draft:	2003 / Round: 7 / Pick: 251
Career history
St. Louis Rams (2003) Dallas Cowboys (2003–2005) New Orleans Saints (2006–2012)
Career highlights and awards
All-Big 12 (2001,2002) New Orleans Saints Defensive MVP 2008 Super Bowl champion (XLIV)
Career NFL statistics
Tackles: 564 Sacks: 9.0 Interceptions: 3
Player stats at PFR

Scott Allen Shanle (born November 23, 1979) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He was originally selected with the 37th pick of the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft from the University of Nebraska by the St. Louis Rams. He also played for the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints.

Early years

Shanle attended St. Edward High School in St. Edward, Nebraska, where he played eight-man football as a running back and defensive back. While there, his team went 29-3 over final three seasons and he earned All-State and Player of the Year honors. In track he ran the 100, 200 and 4x100 meter relay. He set school records in both the 100M and 200M with times of 10.67 and 22.3 seconds. He also earned varsity letters in basketball.

College career

Originally a walk-on at the University of Nebraska, he was a three-year starter and played in every game over four seasons. He earned a scholarship after he redshirted in the fall of 1998. He was Nebraska’s starter at the Sam linebacker position for each of his last three seasons and finished fourth on the team in tackles in 2002 with 71 stops and earned honorable-mention All-Big 12 honors as well. In addition to his 71 tackles he added five tackles for loss and two sacks and hurried opposing quarterbacks six times.

In 2001 he made 56 tackles (eight for losses) and had eight pass breakups on the year to tie the linebacker record. He had a position and had three sacks on the year. Shanle played in all twelve games with ten starts in 2000, and made 55 tackles, including 30 solos. He recorded four tackles for loss and a sack. He was a backup Sam linebacker in 1999 and played in every game, primarily on special teams.

Professional career

Pre-draft

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press	Wonderlic
6 ft 2+1⁄8 in (1.88 m)	245 lb (111 kg)	4.57 s	1.62 s	2.75 s	4.32 s	7.27 s	36 in (0.91 m)	10 ft 3 in (3.12 m)	20 reps	25
Broad jump from Tennessee Pro Day, all others from NFL Combine.

St. Louis Rams

Shanle was selected in the seventh round (251st overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. He made his NFL debut against the New York Giants on September 7. As a rookie, he played mostly on special teams after battling a hamstring injury for most of his rookie season. He was waived on December 12, to make room for guard Scott Tercero who was promoted from the practice squad.

He was named one of the best 50 draft picks in franchise history by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch newspaper.

Dallas Cowboys

Shanle was claimed off waivers by the Dallas Cowboys on December 13, 2003. In 2004, he ranked fourth on the Cowboys roster with 15 special teams tackles. He became the starter at strongside linebacker in the final three games, registering 26 tackles which led the team over that span. In 2005, he served as the Cowboys' starting nickel linebacker. After injuries forced Dat Nguyen into retirement, Shanle moved into the base defense starting lineup. He battled injury setbacks in the season's final games, but tied for seventh on the team with 50 tackles.

On August 23, 2006, he was traded to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a seventh round pick (#237-Alan Ball).

New Orleans Saints

In 2006, he became a starter at Will linebacker, leading the team with 77 solo tackles, he was second with 117 total tackles, while registering four sacks, a forced fumble and two pass defensed. In 2007, he started in 14 games, recording 96 tackles (56 solo), a pass defensed, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a tackle for a loss. The next year he was named the Saints Defensive MVP, after finishing with 145 tackles (79 solo). In 2009, he was a starting outside linebacker on the Saints' Super Bowl championship team, making 106 tackles (74 solo), 2 interceptions, and was the leading tackler during their playoff run that included wins over Kurt Warner, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning. He ended his Saints career with 673 total tackles.

External links

• New Orleans Saints bio
• Nebraska bio
• Personal website