Carroll College Athletics

Jeff Shirley was a 6-foot-4, 240-pound defensive end who started out playing 8-man football at Class C Centerville, and went on to play on four successive national championship teams for the Saints, from 2002-05. Shirley set the national all-time record of 58 consecutive games started.

In 2004, he posted 80 total tackles, with 18 tackles for loss and 6 1/2 sacks. His senior year, Shirley compiled 61 total tackles, 15 TFL and 11 1/2 sacks, in 2005. Shirley’s postseason awards included his third all-conference selection and the 2005 Frontier Defensive Player of the Year, while being chosen first team NAIA All-American.

In 2009, he was named to the CollegeFanz.com NAIA All-Decade second team.

“As a junior and senior, Jeff was one of the most dominating defensive players in the country,” Carroll coach Mike Van Diest said. “He was a very physical player and a tremendous pass rusher off of the edge. He practiced every day full-speed, and that helped him on Saturday. He was tough; he never took a down off. I love Jeff Shirley.”