Shelton Quarles
Encyclopedia
Shelton Eugene Quarles is a former linebacker
for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
, the team he played for in his ten-year career from 1997
to 2006
. He now serves as a scout
for the Buccaneers.
and was a student and a letterman in football
. In football, he won a first-team All-State honors as a senior, and finished his career with 30 sacks
, 505 tackles
, and five interceptions. He was also a member of National Honor Society
. Shelton Quarles graduated from Whites Creek High School in 1990.
in Vanderbilt
earning second-team All-Southeastern Conference
honors as a senior and signed as an undrafted free agent by the Miami Dolphins
in 1994 but was cut in training camp. Quarles then played for two seasons (1995
-96
) with the Canadian Football League
's BC Lions
before signing with the Buccaneers
as a free agent in 1997.
Quarles helped lead the Buccaneers to their first Super Bowl
championship in the 2002 season
. Quarles also holds the record for the longest play in Buccaneers' history with a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers
in 2001
. On April 24, 2007 it was announced that the Bucs were going to release him before the 2007 NFL Draft
after he failed a physical.http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2848048
Quarles has also launched the IMPACT Foundation whose mission is to benefit at-risk children, youth, and their families by providing assistance, programs, and events designed to build self-esteem, provide unique life changing opportunities, and beneficiaries to set and achieve life goals.
On January 20, 2011, the Bucaneers promoted Quarles to Coordinator of Pro Scouting.
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
, the team he played for in his ten-year career from 1997
1997 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 1997 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season began with the team trying to improve on a 6-10 season from 1996. The 1997 season was notable for several reasons...
to 2006
2006 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 2006 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season began with the team trying to improve on their 11-5 record in 2005.-Summary:After winning the division in 2005, the Buccaneers suffered through an abysmal 2006 season...
. He now serves as a scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
for the Buccaneers.
High school years
Quarles is an alumnus of Whites Creek High School in Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
and was a student and a letterman in football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
. In football, he won a first-team All-State honors as a senior, and finished his career with 30 sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
, 505 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
, and five interceptions. He was also a member of National Honor Society
National Honor Society
The National Honor Society is a recognition program for high school students in grades 10-12 in the United States and in several other countries...
. Shelton Quarles graduated from Whites Creek High School in 1990.
College and pro career
Quarles played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
in Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
earning second-team All-Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
honors as a senior and signed as an undrafted free agent by the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1994 but was cut in training camp. Quarles then played for two seasons (1995
1995 CFL season
The 1995 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 42nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 38th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1995:...
-96
1996 CFL season
The 1996 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 43rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 39th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1996:...
) with the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
's BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
before signing with the Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
as a free agent in 1997.
Quarles helped lead the Buccaneers to their first Super Bowl
Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 regular season...
championship in the 2002 season
2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was their most successful season in franchise history. The season began with the team trying to improve on a 9-7 season and did so with a franchise best 12-4 record. It was Jon Gruden's first season as the Buccaneers head coach...
. Quarles also holds the record for the longest play in Buccaneers' history with a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
in 2001
2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season began with the team trying to improve on a 10-6 season. It was Tony Dungy's final season as the Buccaneers head coach. He was fired after losing in the playoffs to Philadelphia for the second straight season.-Staff:...
. On April 24, 2007 it was announced that the Bucs were going to release him before the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
after he failed a physical.http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2848048
Quarles has also launched the IMPACT Foundation whose mission is to benefit at-risk children, youth, and their families by providing assistance, programs, and events designed to build self-esteem, provide unique life changing opportunities, and beneficiaries to set and achieve life goals.
Post-Playing Career
On August 1, 2007, the Buccaneers hired Quarles as a pro scout in their personnel department.On January 20, 2011, the Bucaneers promoted Quarles to Coordinator of Pro Scouting.