Former Kanas City Chiefs Pro Bowler Will Shields dominated at the game of football at every single level. Therefore, it's not surprising that the honor of being elected to the College Football Hall of Fame came his way with today's announcement of the 2011 class that also includes Deion Sanders, Darryl Talley, and Russell Maryland. A total of 16 former players and coaches will be officially enshrined in the Hall at The National Football Foundation’s Annual Awards Dinner on December 6, 2011.
To be eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame, the player must have been a First Team All-American. Shields earned that honor as an offensive lineman at the University of Nebraska. At a school known for producing one great tackle, guard or center after another, Shields stands above the rest. He started 9 games as a true freshman and made All-Conference teams his final three seasons. Better yet, he won the Outland Trophy, finished as a finalist for the Lombardi Trophy and even garnered Offensive Player of the Year votes in the Big 12.
After being selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft, Shields became an anchor for the Chiefs success for years to come, earning 12 consecutive Pro Bowl nominations in the process. Not only this, but Shields also founded the Will to Succeed program which has provided help and resources to the many charitable causes throughout the Kansas City area for years.