Ole Miss’ Shackelford Will Return For Sixth Year

D.T. Shackelford
(Ole Miss Athletics)

OXFORD, Miss. (WCBI Sports/Ole Miss Athletics) – Ole Miss defensive end/linebacker D.T. Shackelford has elected to return to Ole Miss and has received a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA for the 2014 football season.

“I’m excited that D.T. plans to return for another year,” said Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze. “He brings great energy and leadership to our defense and is exactly the type of student-athlete we want in our program. I’m grateful to have a senior like him to provide a good example for our young players.”

A leader on and off the field for the Rebels, Shackelford came back from a two-year absence due to knee injuries to play a key role on the Rebel defense in 2013. The fifth-year senior produced 44 tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and four QB hurries. He capped the season with a seven-tackle, one-sack performance in the Music City Bowl win over Georgia Tech and was named to ESPN.com’s SEC All-Bowl Team.

Shackelford, who earned his bachelor’s degree in history in 2012 and is on pace to receive a master’s degree in education this year, will pursue another degree at Ole Miss on his way to becoming an education administrator.

The native of Decatur, Ala., is also known for his charity work and was a member of the 2013 SEC Community Service Team. He was the Rebels’ Chucky Mullins Courage Award recipient in 2011.