Shackelford Receives More Accolades with Bobby Bowden Award

Deterrian Shackelford HottyToddy.com file photo

Deterrian Shackelford needs to clear off more space on his mantle.

The Ole Miss Rebels’ graduate linebacker, who just completed his sixth season with the Red and Blue, has been named a finalist for the Seminole Tribe of Florida Bobby Bowden Award.

The Bobby Bowden Award recognizes the Football Bowl Subdivision player who epitomizes a student-athlete. He must conduct himself as an exemplary model in the classroom, on the field, on the campus and in the community. The award will be presented by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at the College Championship breakfast this Sunday in Dallas, Texas.

The other two finalists for the 2014 award are Indiana’s Mark Murphy and Baylor’s Bryce Petty.

Past winners of the award, which was established in 2003, include Georgia’s D.J. Shockley (2005), Kentucky’s Jacob Tamme (2007), Texas’ Colt McCoy (2009), Florida State’s Christian Ponder (2010) and Texas A&M’s Jake Matthews (2013).

A Decatur, Alabama, native, Shackelford is equally as involved in the classroom (boasts a bachelor’s and master’s degree), community (has led international mission trips and volunteered countless hours locally) and football field (starting Mike linebacker for the nation’s No. 1 scoring defense).

This is just another in a long list of distinctions for Shackelford this season, which include:

Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Captain Wuerffel Trophy Winner Senior CLASS Award Finalist Bobby Bowden Award Finalist Capital One Academic All-District VI Lott IMPACT Trophy Semifinalist SEC Community Service Team NFF Scholar-Athlete Award Semifinalist When his playing career is finished, Shackelford has stated that he would like to be a sports or school administrator and hopes to one day be a university athletics director.

Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports Information