Donnie Shanklin Explained

Position:Running back/Wide receiver
Birth Date:3 November 1946
Birth Place:Amarillo, Texas, U.S.
Height Ft:5
Height In:9
Weight Lbs:175
High School:George Washington Carver
(Amarillo, Texas)
College:Kansas
Draftyear:1969
Draftround:10
Draftpick:243
Pastteams:
Highlights:

Donald Percel Shanklin (November 3, 1946 – August 8, 2009) was a professional American football running back and wide receiver. He played college football at Kansas.

College career

Shanklin was a three-year letter winner for the Kansas Jayhawks. As a sophomore, he led the Jayhawks with 732 rushing yards on 182 carries with two touchdowns. As a senior, he rushed for 772 yards and eight touchdowns while also catching four passes for 65 yards and one touchdown.[1] Shanklin was named the MVP of the 1969 Orange Bowl, his final collegiate game, gaining 122 all-purpose yards in a 15-14 loss to Penn State.[2]

Professional career

Shanklin was selected in the 10th round of the 1969 NFL/AFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles but was cut during training camp.[3] He was then signed by the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. In 1970 Shanklin joined the Jersey Jays on the minor league Atlantic Coast Football League and changed positions wide receiver, catching 44 passes for a league-leading 1,023 yards and six touchdowns.[4] He set a league record with 314 receiving yards and five touchdown receptions on October 10, 1970 against the Richmond Saints. Shanklin was signed by the ACFL's Bridgeport Jets where he played in 1971 and 1973 and was named All-ACFL in both seasons.[5] Shanklin was signed by the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League.[6]

Personal

After retiring from football, Shanklin became a professional golfer. His younger brother, Ronnie Shanklin, was a Pro Bowl wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Shanklin died on August 30, 2009.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Former KU Football Great Donnie Shanklin Passes Away. KUAthletics.com. September 4, 2009. July 2, 2020.
  2. Web site: Former Jayhawks recall the old days. Tom. Keegan. Lawrence Journal-World. January 3, 2008. July 2, 2020.
  3. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=yV7lvstPuqgC&q=ken+keller+&pg=PA266. The Eagles Encyclopedia. Ray. Didinger. Robert S.. Lyons. Appendix B: Stats, Records, All-Time Roster, and Draft. 307. Temple University Press. 2005. 9781592134540. July 2, 2020.
  4. Book: Ryczek, William J.. Connecticut Gridiron: Football Minor Leaguers of the 1960s and 1970s. McFarland. 2014. 9780786478330. July 2, 2020.
  5. Web site: Jays Passing Casts Shanklin's ACFL Marks. The Record. October 16, 1970. July 2, 2020.
  6. Web site: Corcoran Bell-Ringer in W.F.L. Opener. Murray. Chass. The New York Times. July 11, 1974. July 2, 2020.
  7. Web site: Black History Month: Donnie and Ronnie Shanklin. Eboni. Graham. Amarillo Globe-News. February 16, 2014. July 2, 2020.