Ryan Shazier

Ryan Shazier

refer to caption

Shazier in 2014 training camp
No. 50 Pittsburgh Steelers
Position: Inside linebacker
Personal information
Date of birth: (1992-09-06) September 6, 1992
Place of birth: Lauderdale Lakes, Florida
Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight: 229 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school: Plantation (FL)
College: Ohio State
NFL draft: 2014 / Round: 1 / Pick: 15
Career history
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2015
Total tackles: 123
Sacks: 3.5
Forced fumbles: 2
Interceptions: 1
Player stats at NFL.com

Ryan Shazier (born September 6, 1992) is an American football inside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Steelers in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State.

College career

Freshman season

As a true freshman, Shazier would play in every regular season contest but he would only start 3 games. His first start would come near the end of the season against Penn State where he would record 15 tackles. He would start the next 2 games and end his season with 57 tackles, 5 tackles for a loss, 3 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. [1]

Sophomore season

In 2012, he would start all 12 regular season games for Ohio State. Shazier would have another huge game against Penn State, posting 8 tackles, 2 sacks, and an interception in the third quarter that he would return for the game deciding touchdown. He would come through in a victory against Wisconsin, racking up 12 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, and he would make a game saving tackle on a goal line stand on fourth and inches. He would finish 2012 leading the Big Ten with 17 tackles for a loss and place second in the league with 115 tackles. Shazier also would have 5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles for the season. [2]

Junior season

Shazier would have an incredible junior season and would lead a phenomenal Buckeyes run defense. Against Indiana, he would post more than 20 tackles and tie the school record with 16 solo tackles and 5 tackles for loss. He would be voted a first-team All-American by the Associated Press, USA today, ESPN.com, and Sports Illustrated. His 101 solo tackles would be the second best in the league and his 143 tackles would lead the Big Ten Conference. He would also have a career high 6 sacks and 4 forced fumbles.

Shazier would finish his career at Ohio State with 315 tackles, 208 solo tackles, and 14.5 sacks. After his 2013 season, he would announce to forgo his senior season and enter the 2014 NFL Draft. [3]

Professional career

2014 NFL Draft

Shazier announced on January 5, 2014 that he would forgo his senior season and enter the 2014 NFL Draft.[4] He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers as the 15th pick of the first round.[5]

Pre-draft measurables
Ht WtArm lengthHand size 40-yd dash 10-yd split 20-yd split 20-ss 3-cone Vert Broad BP
6 ft 1 in 237 lb32⅜ in10 in 4.38 s 1.56 s 2.58 s 4.21 s 6.91 s 42 in 10 ft 10 in 25 reps
All values from NFL Combine and The Ohio State University Pro Day.[6][7]

Pittsburgh Steelers

2014

On June 16, 2014 the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Shazier to a 4-year contract worth $9.5 million that's fully guaranteed.

Shazier began the season as the starting left inside linebacker. In the Steeler's home opener against the Cleveland Browns, he made 6 total tackles(5 solo) and a pass deflection. The following week against the Baltimore Ravens, he had 15 total tackles, with 11 of them being solo, in a 6-20 loss. Shazier missed Weeks 4-7 of his rookie season with a knee injury. He returned for his first game back from his injury on October 26, 2014 against the Indianapolis Colts. He finished the game with 4 tackles/2 solo tackles. After playing two games, Shazier then suffered an ankle injury and missed another 4 games.[8] After returning, Shazier made 6 tackles/4 solo tackles in a 27-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on December 24. Following a 11-5 season the Steelers made the playoffs. In his first career playoff game, Shazier made 3 solo tackles and one assist in a 17-30 Wild-card loss to the Baltimore Ravens. In his first season, he finished with a total of 36 tackles, 24 solo tackles, and a pass deflection in 5 starts and 8 games.

2015

After a mediocre rookie season, Shazier returned the next season to again be the starting inside linebacker. On September 10, 2015, Shazier made 5 solo tackles and 2 assists in the season opener at the New England Patriots. The next game against the San Francisco 49ers, he left the game with a shoulder injury in the 4th quarter after making a career-high 15 total tackles and 11 solo tackles. He also sacked 49ers starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick for his first career sack. Shazier missed Weeks 3-6 with nerve damage in his shoulder.[9] After returning, he made 5 solo tackles, one assist, and a sack in a Week 10 win over the Cleveland Browns. On November 29, 2015, he suffered a concussion and left in the 4th quarter against the Seattle Seahawks. On December 20, 2015, Shazier made 3 solo tackles, 3 assists, and 3 pass deflections in a 34-27 win over the Denver Broncos. He also made his first career interception, after picking off Bronco's quarterback Brock Osweiler.[10] On January 9, 2016 during the AFC Wild Card game versus the Cincinnati Bengals, Shazier stripped Jeremy Hill with under two minutes left to set up the game winning field goal.

Personal

Shazier suffers from alopecia, an autoimmune disease which causes the inability to grow hair. Throughout his childhood he was ridiculed and taunted. With guidance from his parents Shazier developed an altruistic temperament to deal with the jabs and name calling.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Ohio State Buckeyes Player Bio:Ryan Shazier".
  2. ↑ "Ohio State Buckeyes Player Bio:Ryan Shazier".
  3. ↑ "Ohio State Buckeyes Player Bio:Ryan Shazier".
  4. ↑ Ohio State: Miller stays, Shazier done
  5. ↑ Steelers pick Ohio State LB Ryan Shazier in first round
  6. ↑ http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profiles/ryan-shazier?id=2543486
  7. ↑ http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=119571&draftyear=2014&genpos=OLB
  8. ↑ Josh Alper. "Ryan Shazier will miss another game". Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  9. ↑ Alec Nathan. "Ryan Shazier injury update:the linebacker's shoulder injury and return". Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  10. ↑ NFL.com. "NFL Player Profile:Ryan Shazier". Retrieved December 29, 2015.
  11. ↑ How Ohio State's Ryan Shazier overcame constant name-calling and won over Urban Meyer with his 'heart of gold'

External links

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