The Mustangs appear to be starting a tradition of producing standout small college defenders. During the past three seasons, the school has produced the Buck Buchanan Award winner, given to the top defensive player in the NCAA Division 1-AA ranks. The award is named for Junious "Buck" Buchanan, the NAIA All-American and Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive lineman who played for Grambling State University from 1959 through 1962.

Linebacker Jordan Beck captured the award in 2004 and defensive end Chris Gocong won it in 2005, making Cal Poly the first school to win back-to-back Buchanan Awards since linebacker Dexter Coakley of Appalachian State (1995-96) earned the award in consecutive seasons. With Shotwell garnering 2006 accolades, the school now boasts the most recipients in the history of that award.

A member of the National Honor Society at Dos Pueblos High School, Shotwell earned Channel League Defensive MVP, All-CIF-Southern Section Division IV, All-Santa Barbara County and Los Angeles Times' All-Section Team honors as a linebacker and running back. He played in Santa Barbara County All-Star Game, earning defensive MVP honors.

As a senior, Shotwell led the Chargers to an 11-3 record and the CIF-Southern Section Division IV championship game in 2001, losing to Cal Poly teammate Matt McCormick and San Luis Obispo High. On offense, he rushed for 1,089 yards and 17 touchdowns and had 19 receptions for 227 yards his final season. He also returned eight kickoffs for 133 yards and made 138 tackles with two interceptions and forced two fumbles.

Shotwell rejected a scholarship offer to the U.S. Naval Academy before choosing to attend Cal Poly in 2002. He spent the season on the scout team while honing his musical skills, playing guitar and serving as the lead singer of a rock and roll band, Kyle Shotwell and the Void. A member of football team's bible study and Block P, he appeared in 11 games as a reserve linebacker in 2003, recording 24 tackles (13 solos) with a sack, three stops for losses and a fumble recovery.

Shotwell started nine of 11 games in 2004, lining up early in the season at middle linebacker before shifting to weak-side outside linebacker for his final eight appearances. He finished second on the team with 88 tackles (55 solos), adding four sacks and 7.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He also picked off two passes, caused three fumbles and recovered two others, advancing one 39 yards.

With Beck having graduated, Shotwell shifted to middle linebacker in 2005. He earned All-American and All-Great West Football Conference honors, as he set the school single-season record (also league mark) with 158 tackles (71 solos). He produced five sacks with 13.5 stops for losses. He also caused two fumbles and picked off two passes.

The Buchanan Award winner added All-American and All-Great West honors again as a senior in 2006. He totaled a team-high 122 tackles (62 solos) with seven sacks and tied for the national lead with 21 stops behind the line of scrimmage. He caused two fumbles, recovered another, deflected two passes and advanced a lateraled interception 65 yards for a touchdown.

In 46 games at Cal Poly, Shotwell started 33 times. He ranks second in school history with 392 tackles (201 solos) and 45.5 stops for losses totaling 185 yards. He finished eighth all-time with 17 sacks for minus-124 yards and deflected nine passes. He returned four interceptions for 89 yards (22.3 avg) and a touchdown, adding 39 yards on two fumble recoveries. He also caused seven fumbles.

Positives: Has a developing frame with good chest thickness, muscular arms and legs, tight abdomen and thick thighs … Fierce competitor with the quickness and range to drop back in pass coverage and the strength to come up and split double teams at the line of scrimmage … Shows above average balance, body control and agility when keeping plays in front of him … Makes all the calls and shows the field alertness and vision to easily see pre-snap movement … Despite lacking ideal height, he is stout and leveraged at the point of attack, showing the strength to stack and control blocks … Alert and very active keying and diagnosing the plays … Takes on blocks with aggression, showing the proper hand technique to prevent linemen from locking on and walling him off … Very physical when taking on the tight ends, delivering crunching hits to reroute his man away from the play … Has the foot agility and hip swerve to redirect and close from the outside … Gets a good jump on the ball due to his instincts and his pure speed highlights his range, as he consistently makes plays from sideline-to-sideline … Displays a strong hand punch and good reflexes to pick off the deflected pass … Very disruptive blitzer who powers through blocks and has the sudden burst needed to close on the quarterback … Shows the lateral agility to flow with the play, staying low in his stance to extend his arms, wrap and secure the ball carrier near the line of scrimmage … Excels in press coverage, possessing the strength to easily jam the receivers … Drops back decisively in the zone, whether using a side or a backpedal … Shows good ball anticipation skills and has developed good rip-and-swim moves to generate a quick outside blitz … Very intelligent, both on the field and in the classroom … Has rare speed for a player his size, demonstrating the range to stay with the play on deep routes … Delivers a solid hand jolt to maintain separation knifing through traffic and has an explosive closing burst to disrupt the quarterback in the pocket … Looks natural in handling the switch-offs in the zone, possessing the quickness (4.54 seconds in the 40-yard dash) of a defensive back … Could possibly shift to strong safety at the next level (if a team is concerned about his lack of ideal height) … Contributes well on special teams, showing the speed needed to get down field and break up the protection.

Negatives: Has experience at the weak-side and middle linebacker position, but does not have the ideal height or bulk to take on the more physical blockers in the professional ranks without getting washed out of the play … Has strong hands, but needs to use them better to protect himself (sometimes allows the blocker to get into his body) … Has good vision and instincts, but will anticipate and guess on a few plays, especially when having to work through a crowd … Has the frame to add more weight without it impacting his speed, but might lose some of his power base if asked to trim down for a possible move to the secondary … Good blitzer, but needs to be more consistent using his arm-under action in attempts to escape blockers.

Compares To: WILL WITHERSPOON-St. Louis … Like Witherspoon, Shotwell has experience and talent to play a variety of positions. In a Cover-2 or 3-4 alignment, he could be an effective blitzer coming from the middle, but in a classic 4-3 set-up, he might lack the bulk and size to play over the center's head. However, with his quickness and range, he could be a nice second-day draft steal as a weak-side linebacker. One of the fastest risers in the 2007 draft linebacker class, look for Shotwell to force his way into the lineup before long.

Ranks second in school history with 392 tackles, topped only by Jordan Beck (449, 2001-04) … His 45.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage rank third in Cal Poly history behind Tom Carey (63.5, 1985-88) and Chris Gocong (61.5, 2001, '02-05) … Ranks eighth on the school's all-time record list with 17 sacks … Registered at least 10 tackles in 24 games during his career … His 158 tackles in 2005 broke the old school single-season record of 135 by Beck in 2004 … His four sacks vs. San Diego State in 2006 set a school single-game record at the Division 1-AA level and rank second overall to Mike Hamerick's five sacks vs. West Texas State in 1989 (Cal Poly played Division II ball that year) … His 20 tackles vs. Texas State in 2005 rank third on the school's single-game record list behind Beck's 22 vs. Eastern Washington in 2004 and 23 vs. Montana in 2003.

All-American first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report and The Sports Network, adding second-team honors from the Associated Press … All-Great West Football Conference first-team choice and Defensive Player of the Year … Named Northwest Region Linebacker of the Year by Football Gazette … Tied with Northern Arizona's Chris Hunsaker in leading the NCAA Division 1-AA ranks with an average of 1.91 stops behind the line of scrimmage per game … Ranked eighth nationally and led the team and league with 122 tackles (62 solos) … Added seven sacks for minus 48 yards and paced the Mustangs with 21 stops for losses of 80 yards … Had five quarterback pressures, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery … Deflected two passes and returned a lateraled interception 65 yards for a touchdown … Recipient of the Pat Tillman Award for his performance in the East-West Shrine Game …

Anchored a Mustang defense that posted three shutouts and finished the regular season ranked sixth in the nation in total defense (248.27), fourth in sacks (3.36), third in pass defense (133.00), 10th in scoring defense (14.73), 19th in rushing defense (115.27) and fifth in tackles for lost yardage (7.64)..Had at least ten tackles in eight contests.

Fort Lewis … Got the season off in explosive fashion, taking down tailback Justin Matherson behind the line of scrimmage on a third-down play, finishing the day with six tackles (2 solos) and a pressure … Head to Head Competition-HB#5-Justin Matherson-Six carries for minus 2 yards, one catch for a 2-yard gain.

Weber State … Helped hold Weber State to 76 yards passing, as he deflected a fourth-down pass attempt and produced eleven tackles (7 solos) … Head to Head Competition-HB#33-Adrian Conway-Seven rushes for 16 yards.

Sacramento State … Totaled fourteen tackles (9 solos) and wreaked havoc in the backfield with four stops behind the line of scrimmage, as he sacked QB Crosby Wehr for an 8-yard loss and on the next play, pressured Wehr, as the passer was then intercepted by the Mustang's Randy Samuel on the opponent's first series in the game … Head to Head Competition-HB#27-Kris Daniels-Twenty carries for 54 yards, one catch for a 4-yard loss.

San Jose State … Continued his torment of ball carriers and quarterbacks, as Shotwell came up with six tackles (3 solos), two sacks for minus 18 yards, three stops behind the line of scrimmage and a pressure … Chased down Adam Tafralis on a 15-yard run and two plays later, got most of that yardage back, as he sacked Tafralis for an 11-yard loss midway through the first quarter … Forced the Spartans to settle for a 46-yard field goal after he sacked Tafralis for a 7-yard loss on third-&-3 at the start of the second quarter … Forced SJSU to punt again with 4:58 left before halftime, as Shotwell tackled John Broussard for a 1-yard loss on a screen pass … Head to Head Competition-HB#34-Yonus Davis-Sixteen carries for 81 yards and two touchdowns.

Southern Utah State … Credited with thirteen tackles (5 solos), twice taking down tailback Johnny Sanchez behind the line of scrimmage … Head to Head Competition-HB#28-Johnny Sanchez-Fourteen carries for 49 yards, two catches for 19 yards.

Cal-Davis … Made ten tackles with three stops for losses, including a 7-yard sack and a pass break-up … Sacked QB Jon Grant for a 7-yard loss at the UCD 20 on the opponent's game-opening series … Teamed with Louis Shepherd to strip the ball from Alex Garfio at the UCD 40 midway through the second quarter, but the tailback quickly recovered it …

Chased down Grant for a 2-yard loss on a second-&-goal bootleg on that same drive … Head to Head Competition-HB#22-Alex Garfio-Nine carries for 39 yards, one catch for 9 yards.

South Dakota State … Produced eleven tackles (9 assists), including one that stopped tailback Anthony Watson for a 4-yard loss od SDSU's game-opening series … Recovered a fumble by Watson at the SDSU 19, setting up Ernie Ciooper's 5-yard touchdown run with 4:39 left in the first half … Head to Head Competition-HB#22-Anthony Watson-Nine carries for 28 yards, a 9-yard reception.

San Diego State … Set a school game-record for Division 1-AA competition when he came up with four sacks for minus 24 yards, adding twelve tackles (11 solos) with five stops behind the line of scrimmage, a forced fumble and a pressure … Sacked QB Kevin Craft for a 7-yard loss on third-&-5, forcing the Aztecs to punt at the start of the game … Sacked Craft for a 1-yard loss late in the second quarter and caused a fumble when he again sacked Craft for minus 7 yards on third-&-8 at the SDSU 24, forcing the Aztecs to again punt away the ball at the start of the third quarter … For the third time, Shotwell's sack killed a scoring drive, as he ended a fourth quarter series with a sack of Craft for a 2-yard loss on third-&-5 with 4:52 left in the game … Head to Head Competition-HB#21-Atiy Henderson-26 carries for 140 yards.

Montana … Posted ten tackles (8 assists) with a sack and three stops for losses of 13 yards … Joined Justin Peek in sacking QB Josh Swogger for a 3-yard loss at the start of the second half and killed the Grizzlies' next series by stopping Reggie Bradshaw for no gain on a third-&-1 run … Sacked Swogger at the Cal Poly 27 with 0:58 left in the third quarter … Head to Head Competition-HB#20-Reggie Bradshaw-Ten carries for 27 yards.

North Dakota State … Registered his sixth-straight double digit game, as he collected seventeen tackles (10 solos) with a pressure … Head to Head Competition-HB#23-Kyle Steffes-25 carries for 127 yards and a touchdown, two catches for 7 yards.

Savannah State … Closed out his career with just eight tackles, but made two stops behind the line of scrimmage and safety Kenny Chicione intercepted a second quarter pass, returning the ball 8 yards before lateraling to Shotwell, who then broke three tackles en route to a 65-yard touchdown … Head to Head Competition-HB#21-Chad Cone-Nine carries for 31 yards.

All-American first-team selection by Football Gazette, earning second-team honors from The Sporting News … All-Great West Football Conference first-team selection … The Buck Buchanan Award candidate shattered the school single-season record with 158 tackles (71 solos), topping the previous mark of 135 by Jordan Beck in 2004 … Replaced Beck as the team's middle linebacker, starting all thirteen games … His 158 tackles were the most by a Division 1-AA player and he ranked fourth in the division with an average of 12.15 tackles per game … Registered five sacks for minus 43 yards and 13.5 stops for losses of 63 yards … Caused two fumbles and deflected three passes … Gained 5 yards on a pair of interception returns … Set a school record with at least ten tackles in his final twelve games.

Troy … Opened the season with an 8-yard sack, a forced fumble and five tackles (4 solos).

Sacramento State … Assisted on a sack, adding a stop for an 8-yard loss and twelve tackles (5 solos).

Montana State … Followed with another twelve tackles (8 solos), including one for a 2-yard loss.

South Dakota State … Was in on ten tackles (3 solos) and a 5-yard sack.

Northern Colorado … Picked off a pass, delivered thirteen tackles (5 solos) and had two stops for minus 6 yards.

North Dakota State … Produced eleven tackles (9 solos) and a 5-yard sack.

Montana … Returned an interception 5 yards while posting seventeen tackles (6 solos), a forced fumble and 1.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage.

Cal-Davis … Credited with a ten-tackle performance.

Eastern Washington … Made twelve tackles (11 solos) and deflected one pass.

Southern Utah State … Had two sacks for minus 20 yards, three stops behind the line of scrimmage, a pass deflection and thirteen tackles (12 solos).

Idaho State … Finished the regular season with twelve tackles (7 solos) and a pressure.

Montana (NCAA Division 1-AA Playoffs) … Recorded eleven tackles (6 solos), as he assisted in a stop behind the line of scrimmage and deflected a pass.

Texas State (Division 1-AA Playoffs) … Posted a career-high twenty tackles (17 solos) with a stop for a loss … His 20 tackles rank third on the school's game-record list behind Jordan Beck's 22 vs. Eastern Washington in 2004 and 23 vs. Montana in 2003.

Appeared in all eleven games, starting the final nine contests at weak-side outside line-backer … Filled in for Jordan Beck at middle linebacker vs. Idaho State … Finished second on the team with 88 tackles (55 solos), adding four sacks for minus 25 yards and 7.5 stops for losses of 31 yards … Caused three fumbles and recovered two others, returning one 39 yards … Deflected two passes and gained 19 yards on a pair of interceptions.

Made ten tackles (5 solos) with a 6-yard sack of QB Mike Hetherington, causing a fumble that he recovered on the play, while adding another forced fumble and two stops for losses of 9 yards vs. Idaho State … Followed with nine tackles and two stops behind the line of scrimmage vs. Montana State … Had eight tackles (6 solos) vs. South Dakota State and was in on ten hits while batting away a pass vs. Texas State … Totaled seven tackles (5 solos) with two stops for minus 11 yards, including a 10-yard sack of QB Jon Grant vs. Cal-Davis … Intercepted an Erik Meyer pass, deflected another and caused a fumble that he recovered, adding 1.5 sacks for minus 11 yards and a single-season high thirteen tackles (5 solos) vs. Eastern Washington … Deflected a pass and delivered nine tackles (6 solos) vs. Northern Colorado … Assisted in sacking Ryan Leadingham for a 2-yard loss, as he also had a 19-yard interception return, a pass deflection and five tackles in the season finale vs. Sacramento State.

Played in all eleven games as a reserve linebacker, recording 24 tackles (13 solos) with an 8-yard sack (vs. Idaho State) and three stops for losses of 11 yards … Also recovered a fumble (vs. Humboldt State) … Had a single-season high eight tackles vs. Akron.

Redshirted as a freshman.

2007: Bothered by hamstring tightness during Pro Day agility tests in late March.

Campus: 4.52 in the 40-yard dash … 2.63 20-yard dash … 1.54 10-yard dash … Bench pressed 225 pounds 23 times … 4.36 20-yard shuttle … 6.96 three-cone drill … 35.5-inch vertical jump … 10'1" broad jump.

Combine: Did not receive an invitation.

Attended Dos Pueblos (Santa Barbara, Calif.) High School, playing football for head coach Jeff Uyesaka … A member of the National Honor Society, Shotwell earned Channel League Defensive MVP, All-CIF-Southern Section Division IV, All-Santa Barbara County and Los Angeles Times' All-Section Team honors as a linebacker and running back … Played in Santa Barbara County All-Star Game, earning defensive MVP honors … As a senior, Shotwell led the Chargers to an 11-3 record and the CIF-Southern Section Division IV championship game in 2001, losing to Cal Poly teammate Matt McCormick and San Luis Obispo High … On offense, he rushed for 1,089 yards and 17 touchdowns and had 19 receptions for 227 yards his final season … Also returned eight kickoffs for 133 yards and made 138 tackles with two interceptions and forced two fumbles.

Political Science major … Plays the guitar and is the lead singer of a rock and roll band, Kyle Shotwell and the Void … Member of football team's bible study and Block P … Brother, Ryan, is a teammate and starting defensive end at Cal Poly (2005-present … Son of Cynthia and Steven Shotwell … father played football at California, Berkeley (1979-83) … Born 3/29/84 in Santa Barbara, California.