Shelton Selected in the Second Round by Carolina
April 23, 2005 | Football
April 23, 2005
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - In what is expected to be a busy National Football League draft for Louisville players, running back Eric Shelton became the first player off the board when he was the second-round pick and No. 54 selection overall to the Carolina Panthers.
Shelton was a full-time starter for his last two years at Louisville after transferring from Florida State in 2002. He was the 22nd pick in the second round.
"I'm very happy for Eric and his family," said head coach Bobby Petrino. "He had a great two years at the University of Louisville and I look forward to watching his NFL career."
Shelton, a 6-3, 245-pound native of Lexington, Ky., became Louisville's eighth-ever second-round pick, and the first since Dewayne White went in the second round to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2003 NFL Draft.
Shelton rushed for 1,728 yards and 30 touchdowns in two years with the Cards before declaring for the NFL Draft after his junior season. In 2004, Shelton led the Cardinals with 938 yards and tied a school record with 20 rushing scores, earning him second team All-Conference USA accolades. He scored five touchdowns in a win over ECU last year and ran for a career-best 158 yards against Cincinnati.
As a sophomore in 2003, Shelton ran for 790 yards and 10 scores before injuring his neck against TCU causing him to miss the last three regular season games.
