Shawn Nelson life and biography

Shawn Nelson is an American football tight end for the Buffalo Bills.

PRO: Taken with the 21st pick of the 4th round (121st overall) in the 2009 NFL Draft…second player drafted from Southern Miss in team history.

2009:
* Started at NE (9/14) in his NFL debut and tallied a touchdown on his first career reception… also played a key role on special teams.
* Started vs. TB (9/20) recorded one catch for 13 yards, before leaving the game with a shoulder injury.
* Inactive vs. NO (9/27) with a shoulder injury.
* At NYJ (10/18), started and tallied two receptions for a career-high 34 yards, with a career-long of 25 yards.
* At CAR (10/25) and vs. HOU (11/1), inactive due to illness.
* At TEN (11/15), started and tallied a career-high three catches for 13 yards.
* At JAX (11/22), started at tight end and had one catch for 25 yards, which tied his career-long.

COLLEGE:
Nelson started 47 of 52 games at Southern Mississippi, catching 157 passes for 2,054 yards and sixteen touchdowns... Ranked second in school history with his 157 receptions His 53 receptions in 2008 set the school season-record for tight ends.

2008:
All-Conference USA honorable mention... Started 12 games at tight end…gained 557 yards with three touchdowns...Made 20 of his receptions inside the red zone, including seven on goal-line plays...Six of his catches were for 20 yards or longer.

2007:
Named the most physical receiver in Conference USA by The Sporting News…started 12 games…finished third on the team with 33 receptions for 451 yards and five touchdowns.

2006:
All-Conference USA first-team pick by the league's coaches... Recipient of "Big Block" Award for his performance on special teams... Lead the team with 36 receptions for 506 yards and three touchdowns.

2005:
Freshman All-Conference USA pick by The Gridiron Report... Played in 12 games, starting the final 11 contests…became the first tight end in school history to lead the team in receptions…Pulled down 35 passes for 540 yards and five touchdowns.

2004: Redshirted as a freshman.

PERSONAL:
Coaching and Sport Administration major...Attended East Ascension (Gonzales, La.) High School, playing football for head coach Bill Beasley... Named to the Louisiana Football Coaches Association All-State team, adding All-District accolades…enjoys playing Rock Band…traveled to New York with his first cousin, Glenn Dorsey, for the 2008 NFL Draft (Dorsey was selected fifth overall by the Kansas City Chiefs)…Son of Lynette and Henry Gibbs...Resides in Gonzales, Louisiana.

COMMUNITY:
In 2009, Shawn participated in the Toyota Rookie Club appearing at numerous community events throughout Western New York and Southern Ontario. The Toyota Rookie Club helps the franchises newest players become more involved in the Western New York community. Each month, Shawn and all first year players did one community appearance as a group. The Toyota Rookie Club events included a visit to Dave & Buster’s to play video games and host a pizza party with pediatric cancer patients hosted by Brian Moorman’s PUNT Foundation, a visit to the Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute Panthers in Toronto, Ontario to discuss the importance of sport and activity with the student-athletes and to present the football team with $3,000 in new equipment for the school’s football program, and a trip to the Northwest Buffalo Community Center in November 2009 where the Rookie Club Members served Thanksgiving Dinner to approximately 300 children and families. In addition to serving food, the players introduced themselves to the community members during a brief ceremony, sat and ate with them, and signed autographs.

The final Rookie Club appearance of 2009 took place at the Annual Bills Holiday Party. The Rookie Club and Bills veterans hosted nearly 100 children from a number of different local community organizations. The Annual Holiday Party gives children from the organizations an opportunity to celebrate the holidays with the Bills players, Jills cheerleaders, Billy Buffalo, and Santa Claus. The children received a holiday dinner, pictures and autographs and gifts from a wish list that they had previously submitted.

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