Donnie Shanklin

Donnie Shanklin
Personal information
Born:	November 3, 1946; Amarillo, Texas, U.S.
Died:	August 30, 2009 (aged 62)
Height:	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:	175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High school:	George Washington Carver; (Amarillo, Texas)
College:	Kansas
Position:	Running back/Wide receiver
NFL draft:	1969 / round: 10 / pick: 243
Career history
	Philadelphia Eagles (1969)*; BC Lions (1969); Jersey Jays (1970); Bridgeport Jets (1971, 1973); Philadelphia Bell (1974);
	* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
	2× All-ACFL (1971, 1973); 2× Second-team All-Big Eight (1966, 1968); 1969 Orange Bowl MVP;

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]

References

^ "Former KU Football Great Donnie Shanklin Passes Away". KUAthletics.com. September 4, 2009. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
^ Keegan, Tom (January 3, 2008). "Former Jayhawks recall the old days". Lawrence Journal-World. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
^ Didinger, Ray; Lyons, Robert S. (2005). "Appendix B: Stats, Records, All-Time Roster, and Draft". The Eagles Encyclopedia. Temple University Press. p. 307. ISBN 9781592134540. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
^ Ryczek, William J. (2014). Connecticut Gridiron: Football Minor Leaguers of the 1960s and 1970s. McFarland. ISBN 9780786478330. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
^ "Jays Passing Casts Shanklin's ACFL Marks". The Record. October 16, 1970. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
^ Chass, Murray (July 11, 1974). "Corcoran Bell-Ringer in W.F.L. Opener". The New York Times. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
^ Graham, Eboni (February 16, 2014). "Black History Month: Donnie and Ronnie Shanklin". Amarillo Globe-News. Retrieved July 2, 2020.

[1] "Former KU Football Great Donnie Shanklin Passes Away". KUAthletics.com. September 4, 2009. Retrieved July 2, 2020.

[2] Keegan, Tom (January 3, 2008). "Former Jayhawks recall the old days". Lawrence Journal-World. Retrieved July 2, 2020.

[3] Didinger, Ray; Lyons, Robert S. (2005). "Appendix B: Stats, Records, All-Time Roster, and Draft". The Eagles Encyclopedia. Temple University Press. p. 307. ISBN 9781592134540. Retrieved July 2, 2020.

[4] Ryczek, William J. (2014). Connecticut Gridiron: Football Minor Leaguers of the 1960s and 1970s. McFarland. ISBN 9780786478330. Retrieved July 2, 2020.

[5] "Jays Passing Casts Shanklin's ACFL Marks". The Record. October 16, 1970. Retrieved July 2, 2020.

[6] Chass, Murray (July 11, 1974). "Corcoran Bell-Ringer in W.F.L. Opener". The New York Times. Retrieved July 2, 2020.

[7] Graham, Eboni (February 16, 2014). "Black History Month: Donnie and Ronnie Shanklin". Amarillo Globe-News. Retrieved July 2, 2020.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]