Position: Defensive tackle Height 1.96 m Weight 142 kg | Roster status: Injured reserve Career start 2014 Name Shamar Stephen | |
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Date of birth: (1991-02-25) February 25, 1991 (age 24) High school: Brookville (NY) Long Island Lutheran NFL draft: 2014 / Round: 7 / Pick: 220 Role American football defensive tackle Current team Minnesota Vikings (#93 / Defensive tackle) College Connecticut Huskies football Similar People Carter Bykowski, Mike Zimmer, Leslie Frazier, Joe Woods | ||
Place of birth: Westbury, New York | ||
Shamar Stephen Expresses Excitement Over His Return, Explains Decision To Come Back | Vikings
Shamar Irvin Stephen (born February 25, 1991) is an American football defensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Connecticut. He was drafted by the Vikings in the seventh round, 220th overall of the 2014 NFL Draft.
Contents
- Shamar Stephen Expresses Excitement Over His Return Explains Decision To Come Back Vikings
- Early years
- College career
- Professional career
- 2014 season
- 2015 season
- References
Early years
Stephen attended Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School in Brookville, New York, where he was a two-sport standout playing football and basketball. As a sophomore, he played both on defense and offense and compiled 9 tackles and a sack while also rushing for 91 yards on 18 carries (5.1 avg.) and a touchdown. As a junior, he started every game at defensive tackle and recorded 41 tackles and 7 sacks. While serving as the team captain in his senior season, he earned All-American Lutheran Team honors after finishing his final prep year with 57 tackles and 12.0 sacks along with 2 blocked kicks, helping lead the Crusaders to a 7-2 record. In basketball, he was teammates with current Detroit Pistons player Tobias Harris as a sophomore.
College career
Stephen played college football at Connecticut from to 2009 to 2014, where he was named a team captain prior to his senior season and also winning team MVP following the season. He was selected to the All-American Athletic Conference Second Team also in his senior season. Stephen was selected and participated in the 2014 Senior Bowl following the season at Connecticut.
Professional career
Stephen was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 7th round (220th overall pick) of the 2014 NFL Draft, becoming the first player from the University of Connecticut drafted by the team since running back Vince Clements in 1971.
2014 season
Stephen enjoyed a solid rookie season, with only 1st-round linebacker Anthony Barr being more productive among Vikings' rookie defenders. In the preseason, he received first-team snaps at nose tackle and lined up in both the nose and three-technique spots. He played 42 snaps against the Arizona Cardinals in week 2, getting the second-most playing time of any Vikings defender. Stephen played in all 16 regular season games, the only Vikings rookie to do so, and started 3 times. He made his professional debut in the Vikings' season opener against the St. Louis Rams on September 7, 2014, notching two total tackles. He started his second career game against the Panthers in week 13 and notched a career-best 10 tackles, with 5 solo stops. In the loss at Miami in week 16, he had a season-high 4 quarterback hurries. On November 23, he made his first career start against the Green Bay Packers, replacing Sharrif Floyd at defensive tackle and matching his then career-best with 4 tackles in the game.
2015 season
In his second season, Stephen played in each of the opening 5 games of the season for the Vikings. In week 2, he recovered his first career fumble against the Detroit Lions after he fell on a Theo Riddick fumble forced by safety Harrison Smith. The following week, he had season-highs in defensive snaps with 20 and tackles with 2 against the Chargers.
On October 18, 2015, Stephen suffered a season ending toe injury against the Kansas City Chiefs in week 6 and was carted off the field. The Vikings would go on to place him on the IR list on October 20, 2015.
