Shamar Stephen facts for kids
Stephen with the Vikings in 2015
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| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | February 25, 1991 Brookville, New York, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 309 lb (140 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, New York) |
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| College: | UConn | ||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2014 / Round: 7 / Pick: 220 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||
Shamar Irvin Stephen (/ˈstɛfən/ STEF-ən; born February 25, 1991) is a former American football player. He played as a defensive end. Shamar played college football at UConn. The Minnesota Vikings picked him in the 2014 NFL draft. He also played for the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos.
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Early Life and High School Sports
Shamar Stephen grew up in Brookville, New York. He went to Long Island Lutheran Middle and High School. Shamar was a great athlete in both football and basketball.
Football Achievements
When he was a sophomore, Shamar played both offense and defense. He made 9 tackles and one sack. He also ran for 91 yards and scored a touchdown.
As a junior, he started every game as a defensive tackle. He recorded 41 tackles and 7 sacks that year. In his senior year, Shamar was the team captain. He had 57 tackles and 12 sacks. He also blocked 2 kicks. His team had a great record of 7 wins and 2 losses.
Basketball Teammate
In basketball, Shamar played with Tobias Harris. Tobias Harris is now a player for the Detroit Pistons.
College Football Career
Shamar Stephen played college football at the University of Connecticut. He played there from 2009 to 2013.
Team Captain and MVP
Before his senior season, Shamar was chosen as a team captain. After that season, he was named the team's Most Valuable Player (MVP). He was also picked for the All-American Athletic Conference Second Team. After his time at Connecticut, Shamar played in the 2014 Senior Bowl. This is a special game for top college players.
Professional Football Career
Joining the Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings picked Shamar Stephen in the 2014 NFL draft. He was the 220th player chosen overall. He was the first player from the University of Connecticut drafted by the Vikings since 1971.
First Season (2014)
Shamar had a strong first year with the Vikings. He played in all 16 regular season games. He was the only rookie on the team to do this. He started three games.
He played his first professional game on September 7, 2014. He made two tackles against the St. Louis Rams. In a game against the Panthers, he had his best game with 10 tackles. He also started his first game against the Green Bay Packers.
Second Season (2015)
In 2015, Shamar played in the first five games. He recovered his first career fumble against the Detroit Lions. This happened when his teammate Harrison Smith forced a fumble.
Unfortunately, Shamar got a toe injury in Week 6. This injury ended his season early. The Vikings placed him on injured reserve.
Later Seasons with Vikings (2016–2017)
In 2016, Shamar started all 16 games. He had a career-high 39 tackles that year. In 2017, he played in 15 games but mostly as a reserve player. He made 28 tackles.
Playing for the Seattle Seahawks
On March 24, 2018, Shamar Stephen signed with the Seattle Seahawks. He played one season with them.
Returning to the Minnesota Vikings
On March 13, 2019, Shamar Stephen signed a new contract with the Vikings. He returned to play for them again. In a game against the Chicago Bears, he got his first sack since rejoining the team. He sacked quarterback Chase Daniel. Shamar was released by the Vikings on March 16, 2021.
Time with the Denver Broncos
Shamar Stephen signed a one-year contract with the Denver Broncos on April 8, 2021. He played one season with them before ending his professional career.
Images for kids
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Stephen with the Vikings in 2015
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Stephen with the Seahawks in 2018
