SAVANNAH, GA -- Savannah State alumnus Shannon Sharpe has been named to the 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame along with Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk , Richard Dent, Ed Sabol, Les Richter and Chris Hanburger.
Sharpe was a three-time All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference selection from 1987 to 1989 and the SIAC Player of the Year in 1987. He was also selected as a Kodak Division II All-American in 1989. He led the Tigers' football team to their best records in the program's history: 7-3 in 1988 and 8-1 in 1989 while playing for William "Bill" Davis.
Sharpe, who has a degree in criminal justice from SSU, was drafted in the 7th round of the 1990 NFL Draft, 192nd overall. He remained with Denver until 1999, winning two championship rings in Super Bowl XXXII and Super Bowl XXXIII in the process.
After a two-year stint with the Baltimore Ravens, where he won another championship ring in Super Bowl XXXV, he returned to the Broncos. He played there until 2003.
Sharpe was selected All-Pro four times, played in eight Pro Bowls (1992–1998, 2001) and amassed over 1,000 receiving yards in three different seasons.
He finished his 14-year career with 815 receptions for 10,060 yards and 62 touchdowns in 204 games.
In 2009, he was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame,he was inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame, Savannah State retired his #2 jersey and he was inducted into the Division II Hall of Fame. In 2010, he was inducted into the SSU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Sharpe is a commentator for the CBS Sports pregame show The NFL Today, including the Sprint Halftime Report and the Subway Post-game Show.
The Hall of Fame Class will be enshrined August 6, 2011 in Canton, Ohio.