| Shaun Lyons |
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VILLANOVA: All-conference Candidate; Tri-captain; Named pre-season first team All-Atlantic 10; Intense competitor who has a passion for the game; One of the top linebackers in the Atlantic 10.
1998: Earned third team All-Atlantic 10 distinction; Led the Wildcats in tackles for the second straight year with a 104; Tallied seven tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries and three quarterback hurries; Had four double figure tackle games; Made a career-high 16 tackles to go with two tackles for loss, one fumble recovery, and a sack in game at UMass; Credited with a game-high 14 stops including three tackles for loss versus James Madison; Tallied 13 stops against William & Mary; Had 10 total tackles in loss at Maine; Made nine tackles against Northeastern and eight versus Delaware; Had seven total stops in Pittsburgh game.
1997: Starter in all 13 contests; Named third team All-Atlantic 10; Led the Wildcats in total tackles with 113; Finished 16th in the Atlantic 10 in tackles; Had a team-best 79 solo stops; Made six tackles for loss and six sacks; Tallied seven quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and two pass break-ups; Had six double figure tackle games; Registered a season-high 14 tackles in win at William & Mary; Tallied 10 tackles versus Richmond, New Hampshire, Buffalo and Northeastern; Recorded 13 stops in quarterfinal loss to Youngstown State; Made three quarterback sacks against New Hampshire; Tallied three tackles for loss in Rhode Island contest; Amassed eight tackles and a forced fumble versus James Madison; Had seven stops and a sack against Massachusetts.
1996: Led team in sacks as a true freshman with seven; Started the final six games in place of the injured Jason Gattuso; Finished fourth on the team in tackles with 70; Tallied four tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and one forced fumble; In his first career start versus William & Mary he tallied 13 tackles and one sack; Best game of the year came at Richmond with 15 tackles, two sacks and three tackles for loss; Named Yankee Conference Rookie-of-the-Week on Oct. 27 after his performance at Richmond.
GUIDERLAND HIGH SCHOOL: Earned All-State honors as a junior from the tight end spot and as a senior from the linebacker position; Times-Union and Schenectady Gazette All-Area at linebacker; Two-time first-team Metroland selection at both positions; Two-time first-team All-Suburban Council; Three-time team MVP; Started in the section II all-star game held at Union College; Registered four interceptions as a senior, and one as a junior; Led the team in every defensive category for three-straight years, except in interceptions as a sophomore and junior; Averaged 18 tackles per game as a senior; 1996 Academic Excellence in Public Policy; Received department awards for chemistry and English.
PERSONAL: Sociology major; One of four children of John and Melanie Simons; Born 3/14/78 in New Hyde Park, N.Y.
LYONS' CAREER STATISTICS
G/GS UT AT TT TFL/YDS FF FR PD SKS
1996 11/6 47 23 70 4/13 1 1 0 7
1997 13/13 79 34 113 6/29 0 2 2 6
1998 11/11 64 40 104 7/15 0 2 0 1
Totals 35/30 190 97 287 17/57 1 5 2 14
