AFL GAMES PLAYED (regular season, playoffs): 2007 (Orlando – 16, 1); 2006 (Orlando – 10, 3); 2004 (Orlando – 13) Totals: 39, 4.
CAREER: A top free agent addition for the VooDoo, Shell’s signing immediately bolsters the secondary. He arrives after spending the first three seasons of his career with the Orlando Predators (2004, 2006-07.) In 2005, Shell played in NFL Europe, allocated to the Cologne Centurions by the Philadelphia Eagles. In his AFL career, he has six interceptions, and is poised to have a breakout season in New Orleans after posting his finest year in 2007, including a career-high 110.5 tackles, four interceptions, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Shell beat the odds to make the Orlando roster initially in 2004, arriving with 320 hopefuls at an open tryout for training camp and going on to eventually earn a starting spot.
2007: Led Predators with 110.5 tackles and 18 pass defenses...Added four interceptions, caused three fumbles and had three fumble recoveries...Notched eight solo tackles and a forced fumble in opener at Tampa Bay, 3/2...Posted 11.5 tackles and three pass defenses vs. Los Angeles, 3/12...Named Defensive Player of the Game vs. Austin, 3/16, with six solo stops, a fumble recovery and an interception...Added seven solo tackles and an interception at New Orleans, 3/31...Led team with 8.5 tackles, and an interception vs. Tampa Bay, 4/ 14...Posted a team-high 5.5 tackles, a forced fumble, an interception and two passes defensed at San Jose, 6/1...Notched nine stops, a fumble recovery and two pass defenses vs. Georgia, 6/15. 2006: Played in 10 games and finished fourth on team with 47 tackles...Also had a pair of interceptions and a fumble recovery...Led team in postseason with 22 tackles, two pass defenses, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in three games...On offense, had 12 receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown...Placed on injured reserve for Weeks 3-4 with shoulder injury, and re-injured shoulder and placed on IR for Weeks 8-11... 2004: Played in 13 games as a rookie, eventually earning starting slot at WR/DB. Had nine receptions for 104 yards and a pair of TDs to go with 30.5 tackles and four pass defenses...Capped incredible story by seeing significant action in first game against Tampa in Week 1. Came to Predators as a tryout participant, beating out 300 others for a chance to go to training camp and then made team. Caught a pass for 16 yards in debut and had two tackles with a pass defense in backup role...Picked up three defensive starts in Weeks 5-9, while playing in all five games...In Week 10 vs. New Orleans, started on defense and also had 20-yard touchdown catch...Had one reception for seven yards, and a team-high 4.5 tackles on defense vs. Tampa Bay in Week 13. Sustained shoulder injury in game that would end his 2004 season.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Standout AFL season in 2004 earned Shell a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005...Assigned by Eagles to NFL Europe in May, where he played for the Cologne Centurions...Posted 27 tackles and a team-high two interceptions while starting all 10 games...Went to camp with Eagles in 2005.
COLLEGE: Played four seasons at Jacksonville (Fla.) University, recording 122 career tackles (99 solo), 37 pass defenses and seven interceptions...Also averaged 20.2 yards on 60 career kickoffs and 13.0 yards on 17 punt returns.
PERSONAL: First name is pronounced lin-JAY...Earned all-district and all-metro honors as a defensive back at Edgewater (Orlando, Fla.) HS...A starter in annual Florida vs. Georgia High School All-Star Game...Four-year letterman in track...Orlando, Fla. native. |
