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Shafer Suggs

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Shafer started at strong safety for the New York Jets from 1976 to 1980, where led the Jets in tackles in 1978-1979 before being traded to the Cincinnati Bengals in 1980. 

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Shafer Suggs spent over 35 years working as a senior sales and marketing professional. His experience includes executive roles working with companies such Motorola, Superior Uniform Group, DHL Worldwide Express, and Cintas Corporations.

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One of the greatest two-sport athletes in college sports history, starting four years in football and three years in basketball for Ball State University from 1972-1976 Shafer became the first freshman to letter in two sports since 1951. Suggs established and still holds the Ball State career record for interceptions with fourteen and tied the school single season mark with eight interceptions in 1974.

During his Ball State basketball career, Suggs averaged 10.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. He ranks eighth in career rebounding despite skipping his senior campaign to play in Football College all-star games. Suggs was the MAC Player of the week with 53 points and 41 rebounds versus Butler and Kent State while setting a school record for nine consecutive field goals. Shafer was selected to the Associated Press All American Team in 1975, first team All Mid-American Conference, and Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1975 Suggs also started in three all-star games, the East-West Shrine Game, the Senior Bowl, and the College All-Star Game before being drafted in the second round as the 33rd pick overall in 1976 with the New Your Jets, currently the highest draft pick in Ball State sports history. Suggs was inducted into the Ball State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1987, The Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame in 1989, The Indiana Football Hall of Fame in 1989, and finally the Elkhart County Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.

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Shafer Suggs now serves on executive boards for Loaves in Fishes, Ambassador for the NFL Crucial Catch Program in alliance with the American Cancer Society, and Vice President for the National Football League Retired Players of Chicago.

Currently Shafer Suggs has extended his many years of life experiences into life coaching with his program called Inner Winner a focus on teaching life lesson from his experience in professional sports, business, and personal life.

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