| No. 97 Cleveland Browns | |
| Defensive end | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: May 10, 1989 | |
| Place of birth: Hollywood, Florida | |
| Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | Weight: 264 lb (120 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College: Pittsburgh | |
| NFL Draft: 2011 / Round: 2 / Pick: 37 | |
| Debuted in 2011 for the Cleveland Browns | |
| Career history | |
|
|
| Roster status: Active | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Career NFL statistics as of Week 16, 2011 | |
| Tackles | 49 |
| Sacks | 7.5 |
| Forced Fumbles | 5 |
Jabaal Sheard (born May 10, 1989) is an American football defensive end for the Cleveland Browns.
He is described as someone who has not gotten enough credit on the Pittsburgh defensive line[1] and noted for his "extraordinary game" against Notre Dame and the pressure he put on quarterback Jimmy Clausen.[2] He had four tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one pass breakup and four quarterback hurries in the game, as he "simply overwhelmed right tackle Sam Young off the edge with his speed".[1] Commentator Wes Bunting describes Sheard, a 6–4, 260-pound lineman, as being balanced and exhibiting impressive body control, "an explosive first step", and "keeping his pad level down and making himself small when turning the corner".[1] As a junior in 2009 Sheard was overshadowed by teammate and fellow defensive lineman Greg Romeus, but "is a gifted pass rusher in his own right, and his combination of burst, balance and closing speed will find him a spot on an NFL roster".[1] Dave Wannstedt, Pittsburgh's coach and a former National Football League (NFL) coach has also said the he thinks Sheard and Romeus will both play in the NFL.
Teammate and Brandon Lindsey, who relieves Romeus and Sheard, credited them with helping him develop as a player saying, "They’ve really shown me how to work hard every day in practice and to not get frustrated when things don’t go your way."[3] The Panthers lead the country in sacks.[4]
Sheard was suspended from the Pitt Football team indefinitely after his July 18, 2010 arrest on charges stemming from an off-campus brawl that occurred on East Carson Street in Pittsburgh.[5] He was restored to the team after charges were reduced to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct, and paid restitution for injuries and damages incurred during the fight.[6]
Sheard earned first-team American Football Coaches Association All-American honors in 2010 and was named as one of six finalists for the Ted Hendricks Award for the years best defensive end.
Sheard was selected with the 37th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He starts on the Browns Defense and currently has 44 tackles, five forced fumbles, and six sacks through 12 games.
|
|||||