Shannon James (gridiron football)

First Team All-American by six outlets including the Associated Press, Sports Xchange, Sports Network, The Sporting News, I-AA.org and Walter Camp All-America teams, as well as an All-ECAC All-Star, All-New England and first-team All-Atlantic 10. James is the all-time leader in interceptions at UMass and his 20 career picks were the most of any active player in Division I through the end of the 2005 season. A 2004 All-American James had a strong senior season with 55 tackles and four interceptions. He finished fourth in career solo tackles with 253. He was named the A-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2004 in addition to being a A-10 First Team pick. He started all 47 games of his career and scored four touchdowns while at UMass. As A Redshirt Senior In 2005:

2005 First Team All-American by Associated Press, Walter Camp, Sports Xchange, Sports Network, The Sporting News and I-AA.org. 2005 ECAC All-Star 2005 Atlantic 10 First Team 2005 New England Football Writers All-Star Team Senior captain is a strong candidate for Buck Buchanan Award for second year in a row as top defensive player in Division I-AA. Decorated consensus Preseason First Team All-American by Sports Network, I-AA.org, Lindy's and Street & Smith's Lindy's and Street & Smith's Preseason Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year Rated Number 1 FS by I-AA.org and The Sports Network. Number 1 Small College Draft Projection by Draft.com and nfldraftscouting.com. Atlantic 10 Preseason First Team after being A-10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2004. Leads all active players in Division I-A/I-AA in career interceptions with 20, with four this season, the last coming at Delaware (11/5). All-time career interception leader at UMass with 20. Record-setting 19th came vs. Northeastern, breaking the record held by Grady Fuller (1980-83) and Steve Rogers (1967-69). Has started all 47 games of his career. Stands fourth in career solo tackles at UMass with 253. Overall has 341 tackles, seventh all-time at UMass. Third on team this season in total tackles with 51, including 27 solo. Second in the Atlantic 10 in interceptions per game (0.40) which is also tied for 25th in the nation. Had three fumble recoveries in 2005. Second in the Atlantic 10 in interceptions per game (0.37) which is also tied for 37th in the nation. Made four tackles and recovered a fumble at Hofstra (11/19). Score fourth career touchdown returning a fumble 36 yards at Army (11/12), also made six tackles, four solo and had a tackle for loss. Despite opponents not throwing at him often, made 55 tackles this season, including 30 solo. Picked off 20th career interception at Delaware (11/5) also tied for team lead in tackles with six as he moved to fifth in career solo tackles at UMass. Returned from an injury suffered at Maine with eight tackles vs. New Hampshire (10/29), moving to 10th in career total tackles and seventh in solo tackles. Suffered a concussion and shoulder injury at Maine (10/22) on the first play from scrimmage and sat out the rest of the game. Six tackles along with key fumble recovery in fourth quarter in huge win over No. 4 James Madison (10/15). Picked off 19th career pass -- setting UMass career record -- vs. Northeastern (10/8) and returned the ball 35 yards for his third career touchdown. Also had two tackles. Posted nine tackles, including four solo vs. Rhode Island (9/24), had several bone-crushing hits on Rams in the game including 300th career tackle. Snagged UMass 18th career interception vs. Albany (9/17), his second of the season along with three tackles. Picked off 17th career pass in second quarter at Richmond (9/1), his first of 2005. Also had seven tackles. Led the A-10 and was second in the nation in interceptions last season with eight in 11 games. Moved from cornerback to free safety prior to 2004 season. Eight interceptions in a season in 2004 tied for best single-season in UMass history with four other players. Started all 11 games last season with 75 tackles (63 solo), which was second on the team in tackles. General: Reining First Team All-American, who has been named a preseason First Team All-American by numerous outlets ... Named captain for the 2005 season along with Serge Tikum and Colin Stoetzel ... Ranks fourth all-time at UMass in career interceptions (16) ... Starting free safety who has outstanding vision, quick feet and a nose for the football ... Moved from corner to free safety entering the 2004 season ... His 16 interceptions are the most among any active player in all of Division I-AA ... Leads all seniors in the nation in career interceptions -- regardless of division ... Has started all 36 games of his career ... Switched to No. 6 from 34 entering the 2004 season to give the expected entire starting secondary all single-digit numbers. 2004 Honors: Led the nation and Atlantic 10 in Interceptions (8) and Interceptions Per game (0.8) Ranks first among all active college football players regardless of division with 16 career interceptions Tied UMass record for interceptions in a season with 8. Fourth all-time at UMass in career interceptions with 16. 2004 First Team All-American, Associated Press 2004 First Team All-American, Walter Camp Foundation 2004 First Team All-American, I-AA.org 2004 First Team All-American, The Sports Network 2004 First Team All-American, College Sports Report 2004 First Team All-American, Don Hansen Gazette 2004 First Team All-American, CSTV 2004 First Team Atlantic, Don Hansen Gazette 2004 New England Sports Writers All-Star Squad Buck Buchanan Award Finalist 2004 A-10 Defensive Player of Year 2004 Atlantic 10 First Team A-10 Defensive Player of Week (Oct. 17) A-10 Defensive Player of Week (Oct. 3) 2004 Preseason All-Atlantic 10 First Team

As A Redshirt Junior In 2004: Game-By-Game Statistics Finished the season tied for first nationally in interceptions and first in the Atlantic 10 with eight in 10 games (0.80) -- per game average was second in the country ... Eight interceptions in a season is tied for best single-season in UMass history with four other players ... Started all 11 games making 75 tackles (63 solo), which was good for second on the team ... Had two games with 10 or more tackles this season ... Twice named the A-10 Defensive Player of the Week - three times in his career ... Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week (10/3) after his big game against Division I-A Boston College ... Picked off two passes including a 47-yard return, setting up UMass' only scored at Boston College (10/2); also had seven tackles in the game, six solo ... Honored at Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week (10/17) after posting two interceptions, seven tackles (one for loss) and two pass break-ups at New Hampshire (10/16) ... His two pick effort was his third such game of the year ... Picked off two Chris Brown passes vs. Colgate (9/11), marking first time in career he had a multi-interception game ... Grabbed his third interception along with 10 tackles (7 solo) against Richmond (9/18) ... Picked off eighth pass of the season at Rhode Island (10/23) along with eight tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass break-up ... Led team with 10 tackles, eight solo, at James Madison (10/9) ... Made eight tackles at Northeastern (11/6) ... Posted seven tackles, all solo, vs. Delaware (9/25).

As A Redshirt Sophomore In 2003: Game-By-Game Statistics One of UMass' top defensive backs ... A third team All-Atlantic 10 selection ... Earned second team All-East Region honors from Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette ... Started all 13 games, playing both cornerback and free safety ... Ranked fourth on the team with 100 total tackles, including 80 solo stops and four tackles for loss ... Also recorded four interceptions, five pass breakups and a fumble recovery ... Named Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Week, ECAC Defensive Player of the Week and Sports Network National Defensive Player of the Week following the victory at Villanova, in addition to winning the Gold Helmet from the New England Football Writers ... Totaled nine tackles and an interception in the Villanova game, in addition to returning a fumble 39 yards for the game-winning touchdown with less than three minutes remaining ... Earned Dinn Brothers UMass Athlete of the Week honors following the win over Northeastern ... Recorded eight tackles, including six solo stops and two tackles for loss, against Northeastern, while intercepting a pass with just over a minute remaining to seal the victory ... Totaled 10 tackles, including nine solo stops, in the victory at William & Mary ... Made nine tackles, including seven solo stops, in the win over Rhode Island ... Had nine solo tackles and a pass breakup in the win over James Madison ... Made nine total tackles in the victory at Maine, with an interception and a pass breakup ... Totaled nine tackles at Kansas State, including one tackle for loss ... Posted eight total tackles against both Delaware and Richmond ... Had seven tackles, including six solo stops, in the win over Hofstra ... Recorded six solo tackles and a pass breakup in the victory over New Hampshire ... Totaled six tackles in the season opener against Central Connecticut State, with a tackle for loss and a pass breakup ... Posted two tackles, two pass breakups and an interception at Colgate in the NCAA playoffs ... Named preseason second team All-Atlantic 10 Conference.

As A Redshirt Freshman In 2002: Game-By-Game Statistics The starter at free safety ... Played in all 12 games on the season, starting every time ... Ranked third on the team with 111 total tackles on the season, including 80 solo stops ... Led the team in pass breakups with 10, while tying for the team lead in interceptions with four ... Also recorded two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and five tackles for loss ... Named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week following the victory at James Madison ... Totaled nine tackles with a fumble recovery and a pass breakup at James Madison, in addition to rushing 48 yards for a touchdown on a fake punt ... Made a team-high 13 tackles at Northeastern, while also forcing a fumble ... Recorded 10 tackles with an interception and a pass breakup in the win over Maine ... Had 12 total tackles at New Hampshire, with a tackle for loss and a pass breakup ... Totaled 11 tackles in the victory over Villanova ... Made 10 tackles with a tackle for loss and three pass breakups in the win over Delaware ... Recorded eight tackles in the victory at Rhode Island, with a forced fumble and a pass breakup ... Had six tackles in the win at Richmond, with a tackle for loss and a pass breakup ... Totaled seven tackles against Hofstra, with an interception, a pass breakup and a tackle for loss ... Made eight tackles at North Carolina State, with one tackle for loss ... Recorded eight tackles, an interception, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery against AIC ... Had nine total tackles against Central Connecticut, with an interception.

As A Freshman In 2001: Redshirted.

• Baltimore Ravens (2006)*
• Calgary Stampeders (2006–2009)

2009

TKL DC STC TFL FF PD

67 60 7 5 1 3

2008

Playing in all 18 regular season games, James was the Stamps’ nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player for the second straight season. He led the club with 73 tackles, a career high and the highest total by a Stamp since 2005. He added 13 pass knockdowns, which were the most by a Stamp since 2001, two sacks, five tackles for a loss and nine special-teams tackles. James also had a team-leading four forced fumbles and also recovered one fumble. James set a career mark with eight tackles on Labour Day against the Edmonton Eskimos and played his best game of 2008 in the rematch on Sept. 5 when he recorded seven tackles, one quarterback sack, one forced fumble, one special-teams tackle and a 27-yard interception return for a touchdown. In addition, James was one of only two Stampeders to record a tackle in every game of the 2008 season including playoffs. James capped his impressive campaign by playing in both Stamps playoff games and notching seven tackles, one special-teams tackle and an interception. He capped his impressive season off with the game saving interception in the Stamps 2008 Grey Cup victory.

2007

James had a breakout campaign in his second season with the Stamps. He was second on the team in tackles (60) and tied for the lead in pass knockdowns (five). James also recorded two interceptions, one forced fumble, four sacks and seven special-teams tackles. For his efforts, James was the Stampeders nominee for the CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award.

2006

Joined the Stampeders mid way into the season…Played in two regular season games…First CFL game was on October 15 vs B.C…recorded seven defensive tackles and one tackle for a loss.

• Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2010)