PITTSBURGH STEELERS 2009 SEVENTH-ROUND DRAFT PICKALLAN 'A.Q.' SHIPLEYCENTER226th Overall
A.Q. SHIPLEY
Center
Penn State University
6:00.5-298
Coraopolis, Pennsylvania
Moon Area High School
7th Round – 226th Overall
OVERVIEW
The first center to serve as team captain since Barry Tielsch in 1996, Shipley had a banner senior campaign for the Nittany Lions. In addition to being named the recipient of the Rimington Trophy, given to college football's best performer at center, he became the 92nd player in school annals to be named All-American first-team. Shipley proved to be a tough competitor in the middle of the field, anchoring a front wall that led the Big Ten Conference and ranked fourth in the nation for fewest quarterback sacks allowed 1.00 spg. That stellar pass protection allowed PSU to generate 243.08 aerial yards per game, the third-best total in the league. A respected team leader, Shipley is an intense and physical presence on the line. He is also one of the squad's most engaging personalities and played a jovial Santa Claus at the team's bowl game Christmas party during the 2005 and '06 seasons. An accomplished golfer, he graduated last December with a degree in Labor and Industrial Relations. At Moon Area High School, Shipley was a standout defensive lineman in four seasons with the varsity. He was a member of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25, and the Harrisburg Patriot-News Platinum 33 squads and also played in the 2004 "Big 33" Classic. As a senior, he helped the squad reach the Western Pennsylvania District Class AM semifinals after winning the Parkway Conference title. Shipley recorded 53 tackles as a senior, including 13 for loss and three sacks, as he also forced two fumbles. He ended his career with 243 tackles, 41 for loss and 13 sacks. He also was a three-year starter in basketball and was a two-year captain of the football and basketball teams. In 2004, Shipley competed on the Penn State scout team as a defensive tackle. The following year, he shuttled between the offensive and defensive lines. He moved to center in spring drills, providing depth there and at offensive guard the first half of the season. Prior to the Illinois game, he went back to defensive tackle, making five tackles with two sacks the
remainder of the season, participating in 226 snaps for the 2005 campaign. In 2006, Shipley secured a starting job at center, competing in 897 plays. He tallied 54 knockdowns with seven touchdown resulting blocks and also recorded a solo tackle vs. Northwestern. PSU's offense managed to average 349.92 yards per game, as the offensive line allowed only 23 sacks for the season. As a junior, Shipley was named to the All-Big Ten Conference first-team by the league's coaches and was a candidate for the Rimington Trophy. He registered 76 knockdowns that included nine touchdown-resulting blocks. He made ESPN's AII-Bowl team and caught a deflected pass for a four-yard gain vs. Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl. Behind his block-calling, he helped the team rank third in the Big Ten Conference in rushing (193.77 ypg.), as the Nittany Lions also amassed 5,201 yards in total offense. In 2008, Penn State's defense was explosive, thanks to the stellar play of their senior-laden front wall. The Big Ten Conference's Offensive Lineman of the Year recorded eleven touchdown-resulting blocks to go with 78 knockdowns. The team finished as the Big Ten leader in pass efficiency (145.35 rating), total offense (448.92 ypg) and points scored (38.92 ppg.).
CAREER NOTES
Started his last 39 games at center, recording 208 knockdowns, 27 touchdown-resulting blocks and 16 down field blocks while participating in 3,014 plays...Also recorded six tackles (4 solos) with two sacks for losses of 12 yards...Allowed just one quarterback sack and four pressures on his last 798 pass plays...Became the first center since Barry Tielsch in 1996 to serve as team captain (2008).
2008 SEASON
Earned All-American first-team honors from ESPN, the Football Writers Association of America and the Walter Camp Football Foundation, adding second-team accolades from the Associated Press, becoming the 92nd Nittany Lion to earn first-team national honors...All-Big Ten Conference first-team choice and named the league's Offensive Lineman of the Year...Rimington Trophy recipient, given to the nation's premier performer at center (first Penn State player to win that award since its inception in 2000)...One of three Penn State students nominated for the prestigious Dapper Dan Awards, awarded annually by the Dapper Dan Sports Charities to the figure from the Pittsburgh area who has made the most outstanding accomplishment in sports in the past year...Became the team's first center to be named captain since 1996...Graded 83.54% for blocking consistency, as he led the league's centers with eleven touchdown-resulting blocks and 78 knockdowns...Allowed only two quarterback pressures and no sacks on 383 pass plays...Paved the way for a squad that ranked 17th in the nation (second in the Big Ten) in rushing (205.85 ypg.), 14th in total offense (448.92 ypg., tops in the league) and 11th in scoring (Big Ten-leading 38.92 ppg.)...Called blocking assignments for an offensive line that ranked fourth nationally and led the conference for fewest sacks allowed (1.00 spg.).
2007 SEASON
All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection...Started every game at center, logging action in 997 snaps... Collected 76 knockdowns, six down field blocks and nine touchdown-resulting blocks, finishing with an 83.23% grade for blocking consistency...Allowed just one quarterback sack and two pressures on 415 pass plays, leading a front wall that saw PSU passers sacked just 20 times for the season... Part of a squad that averaged 400.08 yards and 30.31 points per game...Named to ESPN's All-Bowl Team, as he caught a deflected pass for a 4-yard gain vs. Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl.
2006 SEASON
Shipley moved into the starting lineup at center, competing in 897 plays...Produced 54 knockdowns, five down field blocks and seven touchdown-resulting blocks to record a blocking consistency grade of 80.23%...Also recorded a solo tackle vs. Northwestern…Allowed three quarterback sacks and four pressures on 424 pass plays...Helped the Nittany Lions average 349.92 yards in total offense, 199.92 yards passing and 150.0 yards rushing per game.
2005 SEASON
Shifted to center in spring drills, staying at that position as a reserve while also competing at offensive guard until the coaches moved him back to defensive tackle prior to the eighth game of the season vs. Illinois...Finished with five tackles (three solos) and two sacks for losses of 12 yards while competing in 226 snaps.
2004 SEASON
Redshirted as a freshman...Played on the scout team as a defensive tackle.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Moon Area (Coraopolis, Pa.) High school, playing football for head coach Mark Capuano...Standout defensive lineman in four seasons with the varsity...Member of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25, and the Harrisburg Patriot-News Platinum 33 squads...Played in the 2004 "Big 33" Classic...As a senior, he helped the squad reach the Western Pennsylvania District Class AM semifinals after winning the Parkway Conference title...Recorded 53 tackles as a senior, including 13 for loss and three sacks, as he also forced two fumbles...Ended his career with 243 tackles, 41 for loss and 13 sacks...Three-year starter in basketball and was a two-year captain of the football and basketball teams.
PERSONAL
Graduated in December, 2008 with a degree in Labor and Industrial Relations...Son of Patricia and Allan Shipley...Born Allan Q. Shipley on 5/22/86 in Beaver County, Pennsylvania...Resides in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania.
