Shaquil “Shaq” Barrett is a young man from Baltimore, Maryland. He played his college football at Colorado State University, where he played three seasons and finished his college career with 18 sacks. Barrett then went undrafted in the 2014 draft and was claimed by the Denver Broncos. This offseason, became a free agent until he found his new home in Tampa Bay.
Barrett has always been a player that had no real expectations from his college days to the NFL. He wanted a place that he could call his home. He may have found it in sunny Tampa Bay; both in his heart and in the record books with 1.5 more sacks.
A Record Pace
Barrett is on pace to break all the Buccaneers’ pass-rushing records in his first year with the team. The LB has more sacks in a single season then Santana Dotson (10), Chidi Ahanotu (10), Broderick Thomas (11), Lee Roy Selmon (11), Jason Pierre-Paul (12.5), Marcus Jones (13), Simeon Rice (15.5), Warren Sapp (16.5).
Great Story, Great Player
Players like Barrett are great to see in the NFL, as no one believed in him from the day he came into the draft. He has both tools to rush the passer and stop the run. He took full advantage of watching possible Hall of Famer Von Miller for many years in Denver and uses the skills that were taught to him. The funny thing is that the GM John Elway parted ways with Barrett over 1.5 million contract dispute.
Pierre-Paul and Barrett have set the expectations high in Tampa Bay; the Buccaneers will get after quarterbacks and be dominate on the defensive front. I know Barrett will reach Warren Sapp’s sack record and go beyond it.
Video credit: NFL.com, NFL Network
