By Rich Chrampanis
Former Middletown North star and Michigan State defensive end Shilique Calhoun was selected in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders
MIDDLETOWN– Thanks to its intense interest by football crazy fans, the NFL Draft has become a three-day spectacle star ting on Thursday in primetime for the first round. With rounds 2 and 3 on Friday night, Middletown native Shilique Calhoun played the waiting game. He had to hear 40 other names before the phone call came that changed his life. The Oakland Raiders selected the Michigan State All-American defensive end with the #75 overall pick.
“I was actually with my younger brother and my family as well,” Calhoun said in a media teleconference following his selection by Oakland. “We were just kind of relaxing and watching TV and watching the draft, and we were going through it and analyzing players that I played against. We were just talking about how they’ve been great players and we’ve played some really good teams and just the opportunity to have my name called would be special. When I saw the phone ring, I saw California and I thought, ‘Hold on, I know this number.’ So I just started smiling instantly because I was like, ‘Maybe this is my opportunity here.’ I told no one else to call me at this time, don’t give me any calls right now. I’m waiting for a specific call, so once I got that call, I just couldn’t stop smiling. I was so happy. My family was happy. My little brother was yelling in the background. I’m like, ‘Calm down! I can’t even hear them!’ But it was definitely a special moment for me and my family and we look forward to making more great moments with the Raiders organization.”
A 2011 graduate of Middletown North, Calhoun was an out- standing basketball player for the Lions and garnered college interest to play hoops, but his football suitors were an elite list of college football powers. Shilique ultimately chose the grid- iron and Michigan State where he had a stellar four-year career for the Spartans including being named a second team All- American in his junior and senior years. He could have left school a year early and chase the fame and fortune of the NFL in 2015, but in a true show of character, made the choice to finish his college career and most importantly, obtain a degree in criminal justice which happened this past December.
“Honestly, last year was a great year for us,” Calhoun said. “I definitely thought about coming out, but the opportunity for me to gain my degree, I felt like that was very special for not only me, but for my family. You know it’s a blessing to be able to play in the NFL, but it is not for long and that’s kind what we call it on our defensive line, the ‘not for long league.’ Nobody can ever take your degree away from you and that was a special moment for me. So, I decided to come back and take that up and definitely take a hold of that opportunity. To come out after such a great season… I mean, we didn’t end it so well, but it’s so many great memories that I had over that year, being at Michigan State. I think that it kind of helped me develop as a player as well, develop my knowledge, develop my skill and help me understand what I need to get better at. It gave the scouts an opportunity to see me once again and see that I can get better each and every year and that I can compete on a high level as well. I’m just thankful to have that opportunity.”
Calhoun joins a Raiders defense that features one of the best young pass rushers in the NFL in Khalil Mack, who is coming off a 15-sack season. He spent his college career as a defensive end, but could find himself switching to an outside linebacker role in the Raiders 3-4 defensive scheme.
“Shilique is a fast learner, who won’t need a lot of reps regardless of the defensive system,” Michigan State head football coach Mark Dantonio said in a press release. “ He’ll be equally productive in a 3-4 or 4-3 system. Shilique brings it in practice every day, and he plays with an attitude. He had a breakout sophomore year, and he took his game to another level the next three years.”
The NFL Draft is one of the most rigorous job interviews you can imagine. With a team investing millions of dollars into an athlete, they are poked and prodded for months leading up to the draft. Calhoun’s film at Michigan State spoke for itself along with great numbers in speed and strength at the NFL Combine, but his character no doubt helped his draft stock and
had to be a big factor in the Raiders making the call for him to join their defense.
“I don’t get into trouble,” Calhoun said. “I think I am well- respected. I think I am a respectful young man. I think that I am all about my business. I definitely want to get after it. You can tell that from the degree I obtained at Michigan State. As a C.J. Criminal justice major, you have to stay out of trouble. If you want a job in that field, you have to have a clean back- ground and also I have been raised by two great parents who showed me the way. They’re not saints at all, but they definitely showed me how to be a respectful young man and to get after business. My mom is definitely one of the hardest-working people I have ever seen, so she has instilled that in me since I was young. So, I am definitely someone who is going to come in there and get after it. You are not going to have to worry about off-the-field issues. The only thing you might have to worry about is maybe I’m making too many plays.”
