D. J. Shockley facts for kids
Shockley in 2021
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| No. 3 | |
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| Position: | Quarterback |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | March 23, 1983 College Park, Georgia, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight: | 222 lb (101 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | North Clayton (College Park) |
| College: | Georgia |
| NFL Draft: | 2006 / Round: 7 / Pick: 223 |
| Career history | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Donald Eugene "D. J." Shockley (born March 23, 1983) is a sports anchor and a former professional football player. He played the quarterback position, which is the leader of the offense.
The Atlanta Falcons chose him in the 2006 NFL draft. He was a backup quarterback for the team for several years. Before his pro career, he played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs. After he stopped playing football, Shockley became a sports reporter and analyst for TV.
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High School Stardom
D.J. Shockley was a star athlete at North Clayton High School in Georgia. He played football and basketball and also ran track. His father, Donald Shockley Sr., was the head coach of his football team.
As a senior, he was an amazing quarterback. He threw for 1,861 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also ran for 864 yards and scored eight more touchdowns on the ground. He was so good that he earned many awards and was recognized as one of the top high school quarterbacks in the country.
College Career at Georgia
When Shockley went to the University of Georgia (UGA), he joined the Bulldogs football team. The new coach, Mark Richt, really wanted him on the team.
Waiting for His Chance
For his first few years, Shockley was the backup quarterback to David Greene. Even though he wasn't the main starter, he still got to play in many games. The coaches used a system where both quarterbacks would play.
In 2002, as a freshman, he played in 10 games. He threw for 415 yards and five touchdowns. He even threw a touchdown pass in the Sugar Bowl, helping Georgia win its first SEC Championship in 20 years.
After an injury in 2003 and more backup duty in 2004, Shockley was finally ready to lead the team. He was also a good student and was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll.
A Star Senior Season
In 2005, it was Shockley's turn to be the starting quarterback. He had an incredible season. He passed for 2,588 yards and 24 touchdowns, and only threw five interceptions. He also ran for 322 yards and four touchdowns.
In the first game of the season against Boise State, he was amazing. He had a total of six touchdowns (five passing, one rushing). This performance earned him several Player of the Week awards.
Later in the season, Shockley hurt his knee and had to miss a big game against the Florida Gators. Georgia lost that game. He returned to play against Auburn, but Georgia lost a very close game.
However, Shockley led the Bulldogs to the SEC Championship game against the LSU Tigers. He played great, scoring three touchdowns, and Georgia won 34–14. Shockley was named the MVP of the game for his outstanding performance. His college career ended with a close loss in the Sugar Bowl, but he still played very well.
College Statistics
This table shows D.J. Shockley's performance during his years with the Georgia Bulldogs.
| Georgia Bulldogs | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||||
| Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | ||||
| 2002 | 32 | 52 | 61.5 | 415 | 5 | 2 | 152.6 | 36 | 107 | 3.0 | 2 | |||
| 2003 | 9 | 21 | 42.9 | 88 | 1 | 1 | 84.2 | 16 | 101 | 6.3 | 1 | |||
| 2004 | 26 | 60 | 43.3 | 464 | 4 | 1 | 127.0 | 24 | 113 | 4.7 | 0 | |||
| 2005 | 173 | 310 | 55.8 | 2,588 | 24 | 5 | 148.3 | 78 | 322 | 4.1 | 4 | |||
| Totals | 240 | 443 | 54.2 | 3,555 | 34 | 9 | 142.8 | 154 | 643 | 4.2 | 7 | |||
Professional Football Career
After his amazing college career, D.J. Shockley was ready for the pros. He was measured for his height, weight, and speed at the NFL Combine, an event where college players show their skills to NFL teams.
Atlanta Falcons
In the 2006 NFL draft, the Atlanta Falcons selected Shockley. This was special because he was from Georgia and was the first player from the University of Georgia that the Falcons had picked in over ten years.
Shockley made the team as the third-string quarterback. This meant he practiced with the team but didn't usually play in games. Unfortunately, he missed the entire 2007 season because of a serious knee injury he got in a preseason game.
He returned to the team and competed for his spot. In 2008, he won the third-string quarterback job again. He spent a few more years with the Falcons, mostly on their practice squad, before his time with the team ended in 2010.
Omaha Nighthawks
After leaving the Falcons, Shockley joined the Omaha Nighthawks in the United Football League (UFL). He played for them in 2010 and 2011 as a backup quarterback. This allowed him to continue his professional football career for a few more seasons.
Life After Football
When his playing career was over, D.J. Shockley stayed involved with football. He began working as a TV analyst for college football games on ESPN. In 2021, he became a sports anchor for the TV station WAGA-TV, also known as Fox 5 Atlanta. He now reports on sports news in his home state of Georgia.
