Nov. 29, 2009
Orlando, Fla. (www.UCFAthletics.com) - Former UCF defensive lineman Keith Shologan, 24, will be playing for the Canadian Football League's 97th Grey Cup Sunday evening as the second-year veteran's Saskatchewan Roughriders take on the favored Montreal Alouettes at 6:30 p.m. from Calgary.
Shologan was a four-year starter on the Knights' defensive line, concluding his career in 2007, UCF's Conference USA championship season and AutoZone Liberty Bowl berth. He started in 47 games at UCF, but saved his best season for his final stanza tallying 33 tackles and 2.5 sacks en route to All-Conference USA honors.
As a two-year CFL pro, Shologan, from Spruce Grove, Alberta, has emerged as one of the Roughriders defensive stars with 27 tackles, three sacks and two fumble recoveries through tonight's championship.
Shologan was Saskatchewan's first round pick, No. 4 overall in 2008, and after a stint with the San Diego Chargers, made his CFL debut in week eight last year.
This year, Shologan has become an integral part of the defensive line, taking over the starting duties at nose tackle just six games into the 2009 campaign after nine-year veteran Scott Schultz abruptly retired to run an insurance brokerage.
"Keith's a big part of why [CFL defensive lineman of the year] Jon (Chick), along with our entire unit, has done such a great job," defensive line coach Mike Scheper said Friday.
"There have been at least a handful of games where he's made immense contributions for us and specifically in these last two games that got us into this position right here."
"Before Scott decided to retire, Keith was really making a name for himself as being one of the rotating internal defensive lineman for our team," added Scheper. "It was a seamless transition."
While Shologan has talent for defending against the run, he's made great strides in pass defense, according to Scheper.
"As a one-on-one pass rusher and getting matched up with internal offensive linemen, the guards and the centre, he's done a great job and really improved that part of his game as we've gone along."
"Nose tackles and d-tackles don't get too much credit, especially with your defensive ends getting all the big stats, but we're in the trenches fighting hard every play," Shologan said.
"I didn't really like football last year because I wasn't playing and this year I'm just loving it," he declared.