Laviska Terrell Shenault Jr.[1] (born October 5, 1998) is an American professional football wide receiver and kickoff returner for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Colorado.

Laviska Shenault
refer to caption
Shenault with Colorado in 2018
No. 86 – Los Angeles Chargers
Position:Wide receiver / Kickoff returner
Personal information
Born: (1998-10-05) October 5, 1998 (age 26)
Irving, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:224 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school:DeSoto (DeSoto, Texas)
College:Colorado (2017–2019)
NFL draft:2020 / round: 2 / pick: 42
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Practice squad
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 6, 2024
Receptions:162
Receiving yards:1,577
Receiving touchdowns:6
Rushing yards:253
Rushing touchdowns:1
Return yards:618
Return touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

edit

Shenault attended DeSoto High School in DeSoto, Texas, where he played high school football. As a senior, he had 46 receptions for 825 yards and nine touchdowns. He committed to the University of Colorado Boulder to play college football. Shenault also played basketball as a freshman in high school, but quit rather than cut his trademark dreadlocks.[2]

College career

edit

As a freshman at Colorado in 2017, Shenault played in 12 games, recording seven receptions for 168 yards.[3] As a sophomore in 2018, he became a starter and recorded 11 receptions for 211 yards and an 89-yard touchdown in the first game of the season against Colorado State.[4][5][6] Against Arizona State, he had 13 receptions for 127 yards with two receiving touchdowns and two rushing.[7] He also caught the 40-yard game winning touchdown against Nebraska on September 18.[8] He ended the season with 86 receptions (leading the NCAA in receptions per game, missing three with an injury; also the third most in a season in school history) for 1,011 yards (4th nationally, 9th best in school history) and six touchdowns, supplemented with 115 yards rushing for five touchdowns.[9] His 2019 junior season was highlighted by returning from a knee injury to break four tackles on a crucial 4th down conversion to set up the game winning field goal over Stanford,[10] and nine receptions for 172 yards a touchdown against USC. After totaling 764 yards and 6 touchdowns that year, Shenault decided to forgo his senior year and declare for the 2020 NFL draft.[11] At the time, he was the 11th Buffalo all-time in receiving yards and 8th in receptions, he was also tied for 5th with over 100 yards receiving in eight of his 27 games.

Professional career

edit
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split Bench press Wonderlic
6 ft 0+58 in
(1.84 m)
227 lb
(103 kg)
31+78 in
(0.81 m)
9 in
(0.23 m)
4.58 s 1.61 s 2.67 s 17 reps 14
All values from NFL Combine[12]

Jacksonville Jaguars

edit

Shenault was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft with the 42nd overall pick, the 9th of 35 wide receivers.[13] In the first game of the 2020 season against the Indianapolis Colts, Shenault caught three passes for 37 yards and an 18-yard touchdown that tied the game at 14 late in the second quarter of the 27–20 victory.[14] In the last game of the season, also against the Colts, he caught both of his teams touchdowns in a 14-28 loss.[15] His 58 receptions for 600 yards (6th and 7th among rookies) was a rare positive for the 1-15 Jaguars.[16]

His second season was highlighted by 110 scrimmage yards in a Week 4 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. His 63 receptions for 619 yards were the most for a player with 0 touchdowns in 2021,[17] and second on the team to Marvin Jones.[18]

Carolina Panthers

edit

Shenault was traded to the Carolina Panthers on August 29, 2022, in exchange for 2023 seventh-round and 2024 sixth-round picks.[19] In his first game with the team, he caught a 67-yard touchdown from Baker Mayfield in a Week 3 victory over the New Orleans Saints.[20] He finished the season with 27 catches for 272 yards and one touchdown.[21]

Shenault entered the 2023 season fifth on the depth chart. He suffered an ankle injury in Week 12 and was placed on injured reserve on November 30, 2023.[22]

Seattle Seahawks

edit

On April 2, 2024, Shenault signed with the Seattle Seahawks.[23] On December 2, 2024, Shenault was waived by the Seahawks.[24]

Los Angeles Chargers

edit

On December 5th 2024, Shenault was signed to the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad.[25]

References

edit
  1. ^ Hayes, Matt (September 19, 2019). "Meet the Colorado WR Who Has the NFL Drooling: 'He's Julio Jones, Only Bigger'". Bleacher Report. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  2. ^ Schrotenboer, Brent (October 4, 2018). "Colorado football player chose his dreadlocks over hoops and now leads nation in receiving". USA TODAY. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  3. ^ Howell, Brian (August 16, 2018). "CU Buffs' Laviska Shenault displays star potential". BuffZone.com. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  4. ^ Howell, Brian (September 5, 2018). "KD Nixon, Laviska Shenault play starring roles with CU Buffs offense". BuffZone.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2019.
  5. ^ Howell, Brian (September 19, 2018). "UCLA's Chip Kelly impressed with Buffs' Laviska Shenault". Denver Post. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  6. ^ Kosmider, Nick (September 15, 2018). "That's Viska: Colorado sophomore WR Shenault continues to..." The Athletic. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  7. ^ Stapleton, Arnie (October 8, 2018). "Shenault's 4 TDs lead No. 21 Colorado past ASU 28-21". Myrtle Beach Sun News. Archived from the original on October 8, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  8. ^ "'Of Course The Last Touchdown': Laviska Shenault Remembers 2018 CU Win Against Nebraska". CBS Colorado. September 6, 2019. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  9. ^ "Laviska Shenault Jr. College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  10. ^ "CU football notes: Laviska Shenault fights through pain in Buffs' win against Stanford". BuffZone. November 10, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  11. ^ Kercheval, Ben (December 3, 2019). "2020 NFL Draft: Colorado WR Laviska Shenault declares as potential first-round pick". Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  12. ^ "Laviska Shenault Combine Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
  13. ^ Oehser, John (April 24, 2020). "Round 2: Shenault is the selection at No. 42". Jaguars.com. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  14. ^ "Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars - September 13th, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  15. ^ "Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts - January 3rd, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  16. ^ "Laviska Shenault Jr. 2020 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  17. ^ "Most Receptions With No Touchdowns In 2021". StatMuse. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  18. ^ "2021 Jacksonville Jaguars Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  19. ^ Edholm, Eric (August 29, 2022). "Panthers acquire WR Laviska Shenault from Jaguars in trade". NFL.com. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  20. ^ "New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers - September 25th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  21. ^ "Laviska Shenault Jr. 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  22. ^ Gantt, Darin (November 30, 2023). "Laviska Shenault placed on injured reserve". Panthers.com. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  23. ^ Horton, Ari (April 2, 2024). "Seahawks Sign WR Laviska Shenault Jr". Seahawks.com. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  24. ^ "Seahawks Waive WR/KR Laviska Shenault Jr". Seahawks.com. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  25. ^ Borquez, Gavino. "Chargers sign former second-round pick wide receiver to practice squad". Chargers Wire. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
edit