Justin Shaffer
Justin Donnnell Shaffer (born June 20, 1998) is an American football guard for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia.
![]() Shaffer in 2022 | |
No. 54 – Atlanta Falcons | |
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Position: | Guard |
Personal information | |
Born: | Ellenwood, Georgia, U.S. | June 20, 1998
Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
Weight: | 317 lb (144 kg) |
Career information | |
High school: | Cedar Grove (Ellenwood, Georgia) |
College: | Georgia (2017–2021) |
NFL Draft: | 2022 / Round: 6 / Pick: 190 |
Career history | |
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
Roster status: | Practice squad |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Career NFL statistics as of 2022 | |
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Early life and high school
Shaffer grew up in Ellenwood, Georgia and attended Cedar Grove High School. He was rated a three-star recruit and initially committed to play college football at Louisville during his junior year.[1] Shaffer flipped his commitment to Georgia shortly before National Signing Day.[2]
College career
Shaffer saw playing time as a reserve offensive lineman as a freshman and sophomore.[3] He made his first career start as a junior against Tennessee and started the next game before suffering a season-ending neck injury.[4][5] Shaffer started all of the Bulldogs' regular season games at left tackle and started in the 2021 Peach Bowl at left guard.[6] Shaffer decided to utilize the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes who played in the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic and return to Georgia for a fifth season.[7]
Professional career
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
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6 ft 3+7⁄8 in (1.93 m) |
314 lb (142 kg) |
33+1⁄4 in (0.84 m) |
10 in (0.25 m) | 5.14 s | 1.72 s | 2.92 s | 4.85 s | 8.09 s | 25.5 in (0.65 m) | 8 ft 11 in (2.72 m) | 23 reps | |
Sources:[8][9][10] |
Atlanta Falcons
Shaffer was drafted in the sixth round with the 190th pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2022 NFL Draft.[11] He was waived on August 30 and re-signed to the practice squad.[12][13] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 9, 2023.[14]
On August 29, 2023, Shaffer was waived by the Falcons and re-signed to the practice squad.[15][16]
Personal life
Shaffer is first cousins with DeAngelo Malone who also was drafted by the Falcons in the 2022 NFL Draft. [17]
References
- "Louisville gets commitment from big 2017 OT". Courier-Journal. January 14, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- "Cedar Grove OL Justin Shaffer, previously pledged to Louisville, signs with Georgia". The Telegraph. February 15, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- "Georgia's Justin Shaffer likely will get first start vs. Tennessee". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. October 1, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
- Rainey, Seth (October 1, 2020). "Justin Shaffer: "I knew I had a chip on my shoulder..."". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- "No. 10 Georgia left guard Shaffer ruled out against Kentucky". Associated Press. October 14, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- "Taking advantage of extra year of eligibility, UGA's Justin Shaffer has something to prove". Athens Banner-Herald. March 30, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
- "Justin Shaffer returning to Georgia for fifth year". Chattanooga Times Free Press. January 8, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
- "Justin Shaffer Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- "2022 Draft Scout Justin Shaffer, Georgia NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- "Justin Shaffer 2022 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
- "Falcons select OL Justin Shaffer No. 190 overall in 2022 NFL Draft". April 30, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
- Bair, Scott (August 30, 2022). "Falcons announce initial 53-man roster heading into 2022 regular season". AtlantaFalcons.com.
- McElhaney, Tori; Bair, Scott (August 31, 2022). "Falcons add eight more players to practice squad". AtlantaFalcons.com.
- Deighton, John (January 9, 2023). "Falcons sign 18 players to Reserve/Future contracts". AtlantaFalcons.com.
- "Falcons announce initial 53-man roster for 2023". AtlantaFalcons.com. August 29, 2023.
- Bair, Scott (August 30, 2023). "Falcons announce additions to practice squad". AtlantaFalcons.com.
- "Falcons select OL Justin Shaffer No. 190 overall in 2022 NFL Draft". www.atlantafalcons.com. Retrieved 2022-05-10.