Shamar Stephen
refer to caption
Stephen with the Vikings in 2015
Personal information
Born: (1991-02-25) February 25, 1991
Westbury, New York, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:309 lb (140 kg)
Career information
High school:Long Island Lutheran
(Brookville, New York)
College:UConn
Position:Defensive end
NFL Draft:2014 / Round: 7 / Pick: 220
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • Second-team All-AAC (2013)
Career NFL statistics as of 2021
Total tackles:196
Sacks:4.5
Forced fumbles:1
Fumble recoveries:3
Player stats at NFL.com

Shamar Irvin Stephen (/ˈstɛfən/ STEF-ən; born February 25, 1991) is an American football defensive end[1] who is a free agent. He played college football at UConn. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round, 220th overall, of the 2014 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos.

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.[2] 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.[3] In basketball, he was teammates with current Philadelphia 76ers player Tobias Harris as a sophomore.

College career

Stephen played college football at Connecticut from 2009 to 2013, where he was named a team captain prior to his senior season and also winning team MVP following the season.[2] He was selected to the All-American Athletic Conference Second Team also in his senior season.[2] Stephen was selected and participated in the 2014 Senior Bowl following the season at Connecticut.[2]

Regular season statistics Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
SeasonTeamGPGS Comb Total Ast Sck Tfl PDef Int Yds Avg Lng TDs FFFRFR YDS
2010Connecticut1272713142.04.00000.000000
2011Connecticut1212177100.01.01000.000000
2012Connecticut12102614120.02.04000.000000
2013Connecticut12126021393.010.01000.000000
Career stats484113055755.017.06000.000000

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 4+7⁄8 in
(1.95 m)		 309 lb
(140 kg)		 33+1⁄8 in
(0.84 m)		 10 in
(0.25 m)		5.25 s1.83 s3.02 s4.89 s7.81 s30.5 in
(0.77 m)		8 ft 7 in
(2.62 m)		25 reps
All values from NFL Combine and Pro Day[4]

Minnesota Vikings

Stephen was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round (220th overall pick) of the 2014 NFL Draft,[5] becoming the first player from the University of Connecticut drafted by the team since running back Vince Clements in 1971.[6]

2014 season

Stephen enjoyed a solid rookie season, with only first-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 three 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 five solo stops. In the loss at Miami in Week 16, he had a season-high four 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 four tackles in the game.

2015 season

In his second season, Stephen played in the first five 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 two against the San Diego 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 injured reserve on October 20, 2015.[7]

2016–2017 seasons

In 2016, Stephen started all 16 games, recording a career-high 39 tackles.

In 2017, Stephen was moved to a reserve role, starting only one game in 15 games played, recording 28 tackles.

Seattle Seahawks

Stephen with the Seahawks in 2018.

On March 24, 2018, Stephen signed with the Seattle Seahawks.[8]

Return to Minnesota

On March 13, 2019, Stephen returned to the Vikings, signing a three-year, $12.45 million contract.[9] In week 4 against the Chicago Bears, Stephen recorded his first sack of his second tenure with the Vikings on Chase Daniel in the 16-6 loss.[10]

Stephen was released on March 16, 2021.[11]

Denver Broncos

Stephen signed a one-year contract with the Denver Broncos on April 8, 2021.[12][13]

NFL statistics

Season Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
SeasonTeamGPGS Comb Total Ast Sck Sfty PDef Int Yds Avg Lng TDs FFFRYds
2014Minnesota Vikings 1632313100.0--0000.000000
2015Minnesota Vikings 502110.0--0000.000010
2016Minnesota Vikings 16163816220.0--0000.000010
2017Minnesota Vikings 151278191.0--0000.000000
2018Seattle Seahawks 1514228142.0--0000.000000
2019Minnesota Vikings 1515201461.0--3000.000011
2020Minnesota Vikings 16163218140.5--0000.000000
2021Denver Broncos 1703210220.0--2000.000000
Career stats11565196881084.5--5000.000031

References

  1. ↑ "Denver Broncos' depth chart". Denverbroncos.com.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Connecticut Profile". Uconnhuskies.com.
  3. ↑ "Shamar Stephen Bio - UCONNHUSKIES.COM - the Official Website of the University of Connecticut Huskies". Archived from the original on April 22, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  4. ↑ "2019 Draft Scout Rankings". Nfldraftscout.com. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  5. ↑ "2014 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  6. ↑ "2014 NFL Draft: Minnesota Vikings Select Shamar Stephen". dailynorseman.com. May 10, 2014. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Vikings Place Shamar Stephen on IR, Sign Free Agent Kenrick Ellis". Vikings.com. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  8. ↑ Drovetto, Tony (March 24, 2018). "Seahawks Sign Defensive Tackle Shamar Stephen". Seahawks.com.
  9. ↑ Peters, Craig (March 13, 2019). "Vikings Open Free Agency on Familiar Terms with Barr, Stephen". Vikings.com.
  10. ↑ "Bears lose Trubisky, shut down Cook in 16-6 win over Vikings". www.espn.com. September 29, 2019. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  11. ↑ Smith, Eric (March 16, 2021). "Vikings Release Defensive Tackle Shamar Stephen". Vikings.com. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  12. ↑ DiLalla, Aric (April 6, 2021). "Broncos agree to terms with DL Shamar Stephen". DenverBroncos.com. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  13. ↑ "2021 NFL Transactions: Signings – April". NFL.com. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
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