56  Shaquil Barrett Class: Junior Hometown: Baltimore, Md. High School: Boys Town Last College: Nebraska-Omaha Height / Weight: 6-2 / 250 Position: LB Experience: 1L

2011 (Sophomore): Immediately eligible because Nebraska-Omaha disbanded its football program, quickly adapted to the CSU defensive scheme and played in all 12 games with 11 starts...A first-year starter as a true sophomore, garnered second-team all-conference honors (Phil Steele), finishing third in the conference with 8.2 tackles per game...Led the team with 99 tackles (45 solo), capitalizing on an opportunity when All-America candidate Mychal Sisson broke his ankle in Week 2; also recorded 4½ tackles for loss, 2½ sacks, three pass breakups, one forced fumble and an interception and fumble recovery, both of which he returned for touchdowns...Became the first CSU player to score twice on defense in a season since Luke Adkins, who returned two INTs for touchdowns, in 2004...Made his Division I debut in the opener at New Mexico (Sept. 3), entering late in the first quarter; with just over four minutes left in the game, and CSU protecting a 14-10 lead, combined with C.J. James to sack Tarean Austin on fourth-and-14...A week later in a big win vs. Northern Colorado (Sept. 10), earned his first major-college start, as the Rams' middle linebacker...Broke up a UNC pass on the second play from scrimmage, then forced a third-quarter incompletion, hurrying the pass by launching himself at the quarterback...Started again at MLB in Denver loss vs. Colorado (Sept. 17), making a key play on a first-quarter drive to flush QB Tyler Hansen out of the pocket and into the arms of teammate C.J. James; also played defensive end during several snaps in the second half...Paramount in exhilarating win at Utah State (Sept. 24), earned Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week honors after helping the Rams pull back into the contest in the second half, then win it in double-overtime, 35-34...Gave life to the Rams with USU up 14-3 in the third quarter, scooping up a Michael Smith fumble in the backfield and returning it 15 yards for his first career touchdown, then on the next series sacked QB Chuckie Keeton, rushing from a DE position, to force a punt...Earlier against Aggies, made a leaping pass deflection to prevent a possible TD and finished with a team-leading 14 tackles...Made another game-changing play in 38-31 loss vs. San Jose State (Oct. 1), with the Spartans driving into CSU territory in a 31-31 game and eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter; sacked QB Matt Faulkner and launched a fumble high in the air, before teammate Davis Burl recovered to set up the Rams at the Spartans' 45; replay officials reviewed the play and upheld the call...In first quarter of loss vs. No. 5 Boise State (Oct. 15), slipped into backfield and stopped RB Doug Martin for no gain on fourth-and-3 from the CSU 17...On one first-quarter drive in loss at UNLV (Oct. 29), posted a tackle for loss on each of the first two snaps, then on the third play picked off QB Sean Reilly and returned the INT, the first of his career, 52 yards for a go-ahead touchdown...Had 14 tackles in windy, 18-15 loss vs. San Diego State (Nov. 12), helping to limit the nation's second-leading rusher, Ronnie Hillman, to just 80 yards; nearly intercepted a pass in the end zone in the first quarter...In loss vs. Air Force (Nov. 26), alertly pounced on a loose ball in the first quarter, but after his recovery, officials ruled the pass incomplete...In season finale, vs. Wyoming (Dec. 3), personally ended three Cowboys drives, all in the first half...First, forced an incompletion with a third-down hurry to end the initial series, then dropped QB Brett Smith for loss on a second-quarter run to force a punt, and finally recovered a Smith fumble with 1:33 remaining in the second quarter.

2010 (Freshman): Joined the Rams in summer 2011 from Nebraska-Omaha, which decided to drop football...Because his school disbanded his sport, does not have to sit out a year, and is immediately eligible to play...Played as a true freshman at UNO in 2010, so has three years of eligibility and a redshirt year remaining...The Mavericks' middle linebacker for head coach Pat Behrns, played in 11 games and started the final 10, posting 82 tackles (51 solo), 11½ tackles for loss, 8½ sacks, three forced fumbles and four blocked kicks (two punts, two field goals)...On a 5-6 team, earned honorable-mention all-conference honors, standing out in a win at Truman State in the season finale (two forced fumbles) and an earlier victory at Pittsburg State (two sacks)...Also registered a pair of sacks at Washburn...Drew recruiting interest from Miami (Fla.), where his CSU position coach Bernard Clark won two national championships in the 1980s...Top speed in the 40-yard dash entering CSU was 4.72.

High School: An all-state defensive lineman at Boys Town (Neb.) High School, a private, co-ed boarding school near Omaha with students from across the nation, played two seasons (2008-09) for the Cowboys...Earned defensive MVP honors of the 2009 Shrine Bowl, a state all-star game, with 11 tackles, three sacks, three tackles for loss and a forced fumble...Saw action at both defensive end and defensive tackle, as well as offensive line...Helped the 12-1 Cowboys a berth in the 2008 state championship, where they sustained their season's only loss...Became a full-time starter toward the end of his junior season, when coaches shifted him from offense to defense as the Cowboys were making a push for the state title...As a senior in 2009, topped 70 tackles, including 12 sacks, and added five blocked kicks and two fumble recoveries, one of which he returned for a touchdown...Head football coach was Kevin Kush...The Athlete of the Year as a senior at Boys Town, followed his all-state honors on the gridiron with an individual 215-pound championship at the Class B state wrestling tournament... Played his first two prep seasons at Baltimore (Md.) City College, one of the nation's oldest high schools, before moving to Boys Town.

Personal: Given name Shaquil Akeem Barrett...Born Nov. 17, 1992, in Baltimore, Md. ...Parents are Steven Barrett and Donyetta Hawkins...Has three older brothers, one older sister and one younger brother...Older brother Kevin wrestled at Nebraska-Omaha and now competes at Nebraska-Kearney...Another older brother, DeShawn, also wrestled in college and played semi-pro football in the Baltimore area...Was a member of National Honor Society in high school...Undecided on a major at CSU, but plans to pursue medical school after his playing career...Majored in nursing at UNO...Hometown: Baltimore, Md.