Duke Shelley | |
Current Team: | Minnesota Vikings |
Number: | 29 |
Position: | Cornerback |
Birth Date: | October 8, 1996 |
Birth Place: | Tucker, Georgia, U.S. |
Height Ft: | 5 |
Height In: | 9 |
Weight Lbs: | 176 |
High School: | Tucker |
College: | Kansas State (2015–2018) |
Draftyear: | 2019 |
Draftround: | 6 |
Draftpick: | 205 |
Pastteams: |
|
Status: | Active |
Statseason: | 2023 |
Statlabel1: | Total tackles |
Statvalue1: | 92 |
Statlabel2: | Forced fumbles |
Statlabel3: | Fumble recoveries |
Statvalue3: | 1 |
Statlabel4: | Pass deflections |
Statvalue4: | 14 |
Statlabel5: | Interceptions |
Statvalue5: | 1 |
Pfr: | ShelDu00 |
YaQuis Bertron "Duke" Shelley (born October 8, 1996) is an American football cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Kansas State.
Shelley grew up in Tucker, Georgia and attended Tucker High School. He was a three-year starter for the Tigers and was ranked the 22nd best cornerback in his class by Rivals.com and 33rd by ESPN.[1]
In four years at Kansas State, Shelley recorded 165 career tackles and eight interceptions.[2]
During his junior year in 2017, Shelley started all 12 games and recorded 13 pass breakups, fourth most in the Big 12 Conference, and was given honorable mention all-conference honors. His senior year was marred by a season-ending toe injury after seven games.[3]
Shelley was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round (205th overall) in the 2019 NFL draft.[4] Shelley signed a four-year rookie contract with the team on June 20, 2019 worth $2,647,832, including a $127,832 signing bonus.[5] Shelley made his NFL debut on September 5, 2019 in the season opener against the Green Bay Packers.[6] He played in nine games as a rookie, mostly on special teams.[7]
Shelley entered the 2021 season as the third cornerback on the depth chart behind Jaylon Johnson and Kindle Vildor. He played in nine games with three starts before suffering a hamstring injury in Week 11. He was placed on injured reserve on November 23, 2021.[8] He was activated on December 21.
On August 31, 2022, Shelley was waived by the Bears.[9]
On September 6, 2022, Shelley signed with the practice squad of the Minnesota Vikings.[10] He was promoted to the active roster on November 12, and served as the primary replacement for Cameron Dantzler during his injured reserve stint. He had a game-saving pass deflection in Week 10 against the Buffalo Bills in a 33-30 win. In Week 18 against the Bears, Shelley recorded his first career interception against Tim Boyle.[11]
On March 23, 2023, Shelley signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.[12] He was released on August 29, 2023.[13]
On September 1, 2023, Shelley signed with the Los Angeles Rams.[14] He was placed on injured reserve on November 27, and activated on January 10, 2024.
On July 23, 2024, Shelley signed with the Minnesota Vikings.[15]