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Eric Shelton
Position: Running Back/Fullback Eric Shelton
College: Louisville
Height: 6-1
Weight: 246
Hometown: Lexington, Ky.
Analysis | Injury Report | Agility | High School | Personal
OVERVIEW
Shelton is a bruising scoring machine whose style of play has been compared to Pittsburgh Steelers standout Jerome Bettis. He is a big, physical inside runner who shows very nimble feet for a player of his size.
Shelton was a standout tailback and linebacker at Bryan Station High, twice earning state Class 4A Player of the Year honors as he totaled 4,970 yards rushing with 59 touchdowns and 129 tackles with 11 sacks and 41 stops for losses during his career. The Parade All-American averaged over 10.0 yards per carry as a senior, scoring 32 times that year.
He was a first-team USA Today All-American, a SuperPrep Elite 50 member, tabbed by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as a Super Southern selection and named to the Orlando Sentinel's All-Southern team. Shelton also was an all-state track performer who competed in the high hurdles, triple jump and 4x100 relay.
Shelton played as a true freshman at Florida State in 2001, finishing fourth on the team with 29 carries for 130 yards (4.5 avg.) and a score. However, after the regular season, he sat down with coach Bobby Bowden and requested his release, which was granted. He transferred to Louisville, sitting out the 2002 season under NCAA transfer rules.
In 2003, Shelton was having a banner season until suffering a severe neck sprain in the first quarter vs. Texas Christian, which forced him to miss the final three regular-season games before returning to limited action in the GMAC Bowl. For the season, he collected 790 yards with 10 scores on 166 attempts (4.8 avg.).
In a fierce preseason battle, he wrested the starting tailback job from Lionel Gates. Shelton would go on to lead the team with 146 carries for 938 yards (6.4 avg.) and 20 touchdowns, ranking sixth in the nation in scoring with 120 points. His 20 scores tied the school single-season record that was first set by Lenny Lyles in 1957. Shelton added 35 yards on six catches (5.8 avg.).
In 22 games with the Cardinals, he totaled 1,728 yards on 312 carries (5.5 avg.) and had 30 touchdown runs. Only Lenny Lyles (43, 1954-57) had more scores on the ground in school history. He also gained 54 yards on seven receptions (7.7 avg.). Including his 2001 season at Florida State, Shelton accounted for 341 rushing attempts for 1,858 yards (5.4 avg.) and 30 scores in 33 contests.
ANALYSIS
Positives: Has a rare physique with broad shoulders, thick chest, sculpted arms, big bubble, wide hips, thick legs and thighs, and above-average balance and body control … Shows very quick acceleration off the ball and the change-of-direction agility and flexibility to redirect when the rush lanes are clogged … More of a power-oriented runner who, despite his tall frame, stays low in his pads and does an excellent job of securing and protecting the ball before running up the middle … Strictly a north-south runner, but has some juke and hip wiggle to bounce to the outside … His leg drive allows him to break arm tackles, and he does a very good job of squaring his shoulders and powering his way through trash … He is nimble enough to avoid leg tackles, as he just high steps and finishes the play … Has not been asked to lead block much, but in limited chances, he shows more than enough strength to keep the rush lanes clear … Displays good hip snap as a blocker in pass protection and will face up and take on larger defensive linemen … His good hands and urgency protecting the ball will not make fumbling a problem … Even though he's used strictly between the tackles, he does show good feet and lateral agility to pick and slide in-line … Outside of his strength, the thing you notice in his runs is the ability to maintain his balance when he gets behind his pads … Will usually get good yardage after contact when he lowers to drive through defenders … Good effort runner who keeps his feet when getting to the outside, but is best when dishing out punishment with the ball in his hands on inside runs.
Negatives: He's not going to make precision cuts, bounce to the outside and elude, but does have some burst and an extra gear to break past arm tackles into the secondary … As a receiver, he is still a work in progress and this could remain a liability in his game … His hands look too stiff to be anything more than a safety valve target, if even that … Shows very good run instincts, but will lose vision on the defenders when having to redirect outside … Does not have the top burst or speed to be effective running outside, as he's a bit short-legged and does not show the stride to get outside the defense … Lacks route skills on those limited chances he has had to swing out of the backfield … Will over-commit his body at times in attempt to stave off the edge rush, causing him to fall off his blocks.
INJURY REPORT
2003 -- Sat out the Houston, Memphis and Cincinnati games and most of the Texas Christian contest after suffering a neck stinger in the first quarter vs. TCU.
2005 -- Could not participate in the bench press at the scouting combine due to a right shoulder AC joint sprain.
AGILITY
4.54 in the 40-yard dash … 2.66 20-yard dash … 1.59 10-yard dash … 4.08 20-yard shuttle … 11.68 60-yard shuttle … 7.44 three-cone drill … 38½-inch vertical jump … 10-foot-4 broad jump … 33 5/8-inch arm length … 9 ½-inch hands.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Bryan Station (Lexington, Ky.) High School … Standout tailback and linebacker, twice earning state Class 4A Player of the Year honors as he totaled 4,970 yards rushing with 59 touchdowns and 129 tackles with 11 sacks and 41 stops for losses during his career … Averaged over 10.0 yards per carry as a senior, scoring 32 times that year … First-team USA Today and Parade All-American, a SuperPrep Elite 50 member, tabbed by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as a Super Southern selection and named to the Orlando Sentinel's All-Southern team … Also was an all-state track performer who competed in the high hurdles, triple jump and 4x100 relay.
PERSONAL
General Studies major … Son of Pam Shelton and Undrea Badgett … Born June 23, 1983 … Resides in Lexington, Ky.
