El Dorado’s Danquez Shelton unveiled a new uniform number during the Wildcats’ football picture day. The senior linebacker wore No. 2 instead of the No. 30 he wore last season.
“Number two has been my favorite number since, like, second grade,” he explained. “I thought I’d go back to two.”
El Dorado fans hope Shelton’s game will feature a new number but the same productivity this season. An outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, he recorded 101 tackles as a junior. Shelton’s 26 tackles against Magnolia last year is believed to be a school record.
“He’ll be a real important part of what we’re trying to do,” said El Dorado defensive coordinator Wes Ables. “We plan to use him in a variety of ways. We’re going to try to move him around. Wherever the offense’s strength is, we’re going to try to put him where we think the ball is going because we think he’s a dynamic player.”
The coach said Shelton could line up on either side or even in the middle.
“I’m always going to find the ball,” Shelton said. “They don’t even have to too much move me around.”
His position is outside linebacker. Disrupter might be a more apt description for Shelton’s play. Last season he had 16.5 tackles for losses, including 7.5 sacks. He also forced two fumbles and recovered one.
“He’s versatile. He’s a strong kid. He has a nose for the ball,” said Ables.
Shelton credited his knack for being around the football, at least in part, to instinct and athletic ability.
“It’s a get it and go type situation. If I see the ball, I’m running to it. But (watching) film does help out a lot to know what you’re doing instead of just moving around loosely,” said Shelton, who said he can’t just play cowboy and run around wild.
“I still have rules and regulations. I have to stay right here and stay home and stuff like that.”
He admitted sometimes the temptation to chase the ball instead of staying home can be tempting. He said he was burned in Jonesboro last season.
“I had just came in. They hit me right off the bat,” he said with a grimace. “You’re always going to catch yourself slipping up but after they do it to you it’s like, ‘yeah, I know.’ I can’t do that again.”
The Wildcats hope to be disciplined defensively this season. But Ables doesn’t want to take away Shelton’s aggressive attitude.
“He wants to be able to come off the edge and hit the quarterback, get sacks, make plays in the backfield. That’s one thing you can’t teach - that aggression that a linebacker or a defensive player needs to have,” Ables said. “You can try to teach them the fundamentals of the game, tackling, getting off blocks, their alignment and assignment but you can’t teach that natural aggression that a defensive player has to have if they’re going to be successful and he has that.”
Shelton is one of just three returning starters on the Wildcats’ defense and the lone returning linebacker. His role this season won’t just be about making plays.
“Last year I felt like I was still a leader but I had more guys in front of me to follow their footsteps. This year, I’m the top dog. It feels righteous.”
When asked his leadership style, he answered, “It depends on the player I’m trying to lead. Not everybody understands the same way. As a leader, I feel I have to change up my style for leading for certain people.”
El Dorado’s defense saved its best game for last year’s state championship in a 27-17 win over Greenwood. The defense will be counted on even more this season with a young offense.
“I feel like as a team we’ve all been working and improving. I feel like this season is going to be a season for the books,” said Shelton, who was asked if he’s still hungry after last year’s championship season.
“Most definitely. I’ve been moving around stuff, making room in my room for another ring, making sure my hand stay pretty. I want a pinky ring. I have to set up space so when you walk in, you just see it.”
Shelton laughed at the idea although not because it’s farfetched.
The Wildcats are eager to prove last year wasn’t a fluke. It was just the beginning.
When asked for a final statement for El Dorado football fans this season, Shelton smiled as he walked away, “Watch out for number two.”