Shawne Merriman #56
Position: OLB
Height: 6′4″
Weight: 272 lbs.
College: Maryland
Born: 5/25/1984

Career Stats
119 Tackles, 27 Sacks, 1 Int, 11 Passes Defended, 6 Forced Fumbles, 1 Fumble Recovery.

06′ Stats:
62 Tackles, 17 Sacks, 1 Int, 7 Passes Defended, 4 Forced Fumbles, 1 Fumble Recovery.

“Lights Out” led the NFL in sacks with 17 despite playing in only 12 games because of a 4 game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. He finished 3rd in the voting for the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year. Merriman is considered by many to be the best linebacker in the NFL.

Awards:
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year 2005
Two Pro Bowls, 2005 and 2006

College:
Merriman started 17 out of the 38 games he played in at Maryland. He amassed 189 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss and 22 sacks (2nd in school history), 4 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries.