D. J. Shockley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
D. J. Shockley

Shockley in 2021
No. 3
Position:	Quarterback
Personal information
Born:	(1983-03-23) March 23, 1983 (age 42) 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
Atlanta Falcons (2006–2009) Omaha Nighthawks (2010–2011)
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-SEC (2005)

Donald "D. J." Shockley, born on March 23, 1983, is a former American football player. He played as a quarterback, which is the player who leads the team's offense. D. J. played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs.

After college, the Atlanta Falcons picked him in the 2006 NFL draft. He was a backup quarterback for four years. This means he was ready to play if the main quarterback couldn't. After his football career, Shockley became a sports announcer. He now works as a sports anchor for Fox 5 Atlanta.

Becoming a Football Star: D.J.'s Early Life

D. J. Shockley grew up in College Park, Georgia. He was a talented athlete from a young age. In high school, he played football, basketball, and ran track. His dad, Donald Shockley Sr., was even his football coach!

High School Achievements

D. J. became the starting quarterback at North Clayton High School in his second year. In his final two years, he threw for over 3,200 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also ran for almost 1,600 yards.

His amazing skills earned him many national awards. These included being named to the USA Today All-USA Second-team. He was also recognized as a top quarterback by Parade Magazine and SUPERPREP.

Track and Field Skills

Beyond football, D. J. was also fast on the track. He could run the 100 meters in 11.39 seconds. He also had a long jump of 6.73 meters.

D.J. Shockley's College Football Journey

In 2001, D. J. Shockley was a top recruit for college football. The new head coach at the University of Georgia, Mark Richt, really wanted D. J. to join the Georgia Bulldogs. D. J. was one of Coach Richt's first important recruits.

Starting at Georgia

D. J. spent his first year at Georgia as a "redshirt" player. This means he practiced with the team but didn't play in games. This allowed him to learn and grow. Another quarterback, David Greene, became the starter. Greene went on to set records for wins.

Playing Time and Big Moments

Even though Greene was the starter, D. J. still got to play. In 2002, he played in 10 games. He completed 61.5% of his passes for 415 yards and five touchdowns. He also ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns.

One exciting moment was in the 2002 Sugar Bowl. D. J. threw a 37-yard touchdown pass. This helped the Bulldogs win their first SEC Championship in 20 years!

Later that year, D. J. and David Greene teamed up against Kentucky. They threw a school-record six touchdown passes together. Georgia came back to win the game 52–24.

Injuries and Academic Success

In 2003, D. J. hurt his knee during the season. He still played in six games, throwing for 88 yards and rushing for 101 yards.

In 2004, D. J. continued to play and also earned an award for his academic success. He was on the SEC Academic Honor Roll. He studied Speech Communications.

Senior Year Highlights (2005)

Shockley with Georgia in 2005

D. J.'s senior year in 2005 was his best. He played in 12 games. He threw for 2,588 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also ran for 322 yards and four touchdowns.

After a great game against Boise State, D. J. was named Player of the Week. He threw for 289 yards and 5 touchdowns, and ran for 85 yards and 1 touchdown! He was also recognized for his community service.

Later in the season, D. J. sprained his knee. He missed a big game against the Florida Gators. Georgia lost that game.

Winning the SEC Championship

D. J. came back strong for the ninth game of the season. Even though Georgia lost a close game to Auburn, D. J. played very well.

The Bulldogs then played the LSU Tigers in the SEC Championship game. D. J. threw for two touchdowns and ran for another. Georgia won the game 34–14, becoming the 2005 SEC Champions! D. J. was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the game.

D. J.'s college career ended with a tough loss in the Sugar Bowl. But he played well, throwing for 277 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 71 yards.

D. J. won the FCA Bobby Bowden Football Player of the Year Award. He helped Georgia finish with a 10–3 record. They were ranked No. 10 in the country.

College statistics

D.J. Shockley's Professional Football Career

D. J. Shockley was chosen by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2006 NFL draft. He was the 223rd player picked overall. This was exciting because he was the first University of Georgia player picked by the Falcons since 1994.

Time with the Atlanta Falcons

In 2006, the Falcons' coach, Jim Mora, announced that D. J. had made the team. He was the third-string quarterback. This meant he was behind two other quarterbacks on the depth chart.

Unfortunately, D. J. missed the entire 2007 season. He tore a ligament in his left knee during a preseason game. This kind of injury can take a long time to heal.

In 2008, the Falcons drafted a new quarterback, Matt Ryan. D. J. competed for a spot on the team. He earned the third-string quarterback job again.

D. J. was released by the Falcons in 2009. He was later signed to their practice squad. This is a group of players who practice with the team but aren't on the main roster. He was released and re-signed a few times.

Playing for the Omaha Nighthawks

After leaving the Falcons, D. J. joined the Omaha Nighthawks in the UFL (United Football League). He signed with them in August 2010. He played as a backup quarterback there too.

In 2010, he completed 2 of 5 passes for 30 yards. The Nighthawks finished the season with 3 wins and 5 losses.

D. J. re-signed with the Nighthawks in 2011. He was released during training camp but later re-signed again. This was because their starting quarterback got injured. The Nighthawks finished the 2011 season with 1 win and 4 losses.

UFL statistics