When Jason Shirley is on the field, he has the ability to dominate. But it was his off-field activity that defined his 2007 season.

Shirley was suspended twice before finally being dismissed from the squad in November. Through all the turmoil, he was eyed by NFL teams, as he has the ability to clog the middle and handle multiple blockers, much like Pat Williams and Ted Washington have done in the league for more than a decade.

Shirley's 2007 season wouldn't begin before he was handed a two-game suspension by head coach Pat Hill for conduct detrimental to the team in late August. He was again suspended from the team after and Oct. 8 arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and hit-and-run. Police say his BAC levels were 0.11 and 0.12; officers performed two separate tests for accuracy.

After five weeks away from the team, Shirley was reinstated November 15. Two days later, he was dismissed from the school after he was cited for suspicion of driving with a suspended license and expired registration, but was allowed to retain his athletic scholarship.

Shirley was a second-team All-League selection, adding San Bernardino Sun All-County honors as a senior at Kaiser High School. He was named the league player of the week four times that year, helping the squad to a 13-0-1 overall record and a Cal Hi Sports Division III championship. The team was also named Sunkist League champions and CIF Southern Section Division VII.

Shirley also competed on the track and field squad, participating in the discus and shot put events. Prior to attending Kaiser High, he spent his first three seasons at A.B. Miller High School.

In 2003, Shirley enrolled at Fresno State, turning down scholarship offers from Oregon and Arizona. He spent the season competing on the Bulldogs scout team, adding more than 20 pounds of bulk to his frame. In 2004, he appeared in 11 games at nose guard, playing behind Donyell Booker. He totaled 16 tackles (six solo) with a sack, 2 ½ stops for losses and a pass deflection.

A high ankle sprain limited Shirley to nine games and forced him to sit out four contests while starting the team's first five clashes at nose guard. He posted 14 tackles (five solo), assisted on a sack and delivered four stops behind the line of scrimmage.

Twenty more pounds of bulk on his 330-pound frame did not seem to slow down Shirley in 2006. He started seven of twelve games, registering 20 tackles (seven solo), two sacks and 4 ½ stops for losses. He recovered a fumble and blocked three kicks, including two field goals vs. Hawaii. He left the Nevada clash in the fourth quarter after suffering neck cramps after blocking an extra point attempt.

Shirley's suspensions and eventual dismissal saw him play as a reserve in only the Oregon, Louisiana Tech and Nevada games in 2007. He finished with seven tackles, including three solo hits, as he posted 1 ½ sacks with three stops for losses. He also caused one fumble.

Positives: Has a massive frame that could carry at least another 20 pounds of bulk with no loss in quickness … Model of inconsistency in his playing style, but has everything you look for in an NFL nose guard from an athletic standpoint -- long, thick arms, wide back, broad shoulders, thick chest, wide hips and very thick thighs and calves that help him anchor and obliterate double-team activity … Best when stationed at the point of attack to generate run containment, as he is an immovable force when he anchors and keeps his pad level down … Football comes easy to him because of his size and strength … Shows good quickness and good timed speed, agility, body control, and ability to redirect for a player his size … Learns and retains football information with normal reps … Flashes a nasty streak and shows good initial quickness when motivated … For a player of his size and girth, he has quickness and the ability to generate quick penetration to disrupt … Flashes a short, quick burst to close on the quarterback, but is best when planted at the line to clog rush lanes and generate kick-backs when driving into ballcarriers to prevent forward progress … Stays low in his pads to shoot the gaps, but would be even more effective if he had a better feel for blocking schemes … Makes plays in the short area, but his motor is not consistent, as he will throttle down rather than generate long pursuit … When his head is in the game, he has no problems clearing his feet and getting into backside pursuit … Has more than enough strength to lock up and control multiple blockers … Needs better rush moves, but when he keeps his hands active, he gets a strong push off the snap, but he can be overaggressive and starts taking wild arm swipes … If he breaks free from the cut blocks, he has enough burst to close on the pocket … Powerful bull rusher who can instantly collapse the pocket if he gets a free lane … Has a decent rip-and-swim move combination working past the blocker's outside shoulder with a very effective arm-over move … If he gets his hands on a blocker, he will generally beat his man with power or by yanking the opponent to the ground … Is quite inconsistent, but when his head is in the game, he plays with great aggression.

Negatives: Needs to be constantly monitored training and off the field and his maturity is sorely lacking … Had a rash of off-field issues related to alcohol … Gets too overconfident in his athletic ability will get the job done, but he needs to make a much more consistent effort when on the field … Has only adequate football intelligence, as he will throttle down too often due to laziness and frustrates the coaching staff with his inconsistent motor … Lacks leadership ability and does not take well to hard coaching, even though it is evident that he has a poor work ethic and will not perform unless prodded … The staff felt that even without his off-field issues, that football was not important is in his life … Generally is able to find the ball, but will lower his head and get too involved with blockers, as he felt he could overpower anybody, but this saw him struggling to find the ball … Plays too high in his stance, but generally stays on the line of scrimmage and is very solid vs. the run when he stays low in his pads … Gets driven off the ball when his pads get too high, but he can stack and split to make a big play when he's motivated … Flashes pop on contact to shock blockers and invert the line of scrimmage and the strength to shed blocks quickly but lacks consistency … Hustles and chases the ball at times flashing good speed and range, but most pursuit is short-lived due to his lack of effort and stamina issues … Mostly a grab-and-drag tackler with the ability to smother ballcarriers, but will pull up and observe the action rather than give long pursuit … Has the ability to push the pocket with a strong bull-rush or penetrate with a quick slap and swim move, but he lacks consistent effort … When motivated, he shows strong, quick hands and while he has good speed to close on the quarterback, he doesn't use it often … Might be too tall to play nose guard, as he has a penchant for getting too tall in his stance, losing his strong base and anchor as a result.

Compares To: BARRY COFIELD-New York Giants … Actually, if Shirley would apply himself and realize the opportunity he has in front of him, he could become the next Pat Williams (Minnesota). His alcohol-related issues might have cost him considerable dollars on the contract table. When he applies himself, he is capable of obliterating double teams. Right now, he's like a muscle car with a four cylinder -- looks tough, but where is the motor? You can hope that a veteran takes him under his wing, but teams might be concerned Shirley's character will make him a locker-room disturbance. Unless the light comes on and he makes the most of his chance, his legacy will be throwing away immense talent.

2005: Suffered a high ankle sprain vs. Utah State (10/15), missing most of that game and the next four contests vs. Idaho, Hawaii, San Jose State and Boise State.

2006: Missed most of the fourth quarter vs. Nevada (9/01) with a neck cramp suffered while blocking a third quarter extra point attempt.

Campus: 5.02 in the 40-yard dash … 1.72 10-yard dash … 2.92 20-yard dash … 4.18 20-yard shuttle … 7.16 three-cone drill … 35-inch vertical jump … 9'7" broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 25 times … 455-pound bench press … 352-pound power clean … 308-pound hang clean … 33 7/8-inch arm length … 10 ¼-inch hands.

Attended Kaiser (Fontana, Cal.) High School, playing football for head coach Dick Bruich … Second-team All-League selection, adding San Bernardino Sun All-County honors as a senior … Named the league Player of the Week four times that year, helping the squad to a 13-0-1 overall record and a Cal Hi Sports Division III championship … The team was also named Sunkist League champions and CIF Southern Section Division VII … Competed on the track and field squad, participating in the discus and shot put events … Prior to attending Kaiser High, he spent his first three seasons at A.B. Miller High School.

General Studies major … Son of Woodrow and Florentine Shirley … Born 9/30/85 … Resides in Fontana, California.