Tyler Shatley on Sunday confirmed that he has played his last NFL game, bringing Burke County’s longest pro football career to an end after 11 seasons.
Shatley’s retirement was announced by the Jacksonville Jaguars official team page on Facebook.
The post contains 10 paragraphs written by Shatley, a Valdese native and 2009 East Burke High School graduate who later starred collegiately at Clemson. The caption with the top photo of the post and the signature line at the end both contained the text “forever grateful.”
“After 11 unforgettable years in Jacksonville, I’ve decided it’s time to step away from the game,” Shatley wrote, in part. “It’s not an easy decision, and it saddens me to close this chapter, but my heart is full of gratitude – for the game, for the relationships it brought, and for the privilege of finishing where it all began.”
The 33-year-old Shatley initially announced his plans to retire in August, stating the 2024 season would be his last.
The versatile 6-foot-3, 305-pound offensive lineman who had played all 17 games and started six times at center in 2023 was released by the team later in August, however, failing to make the 53-man regular-season roster despite having signed his seventh contract with the franchise over the course of his career after initially being signed in 2014 as an undrafted free agent.
The Jaguars at the time mentioned the possibility of bringing Shatley back in some capacity and did so in late November when he was signed to the practice squad.
After starring in football, wrestling, and track and field at East Burke, Shatley was an All-ACC performer at Clemson, where he was a member of the 2011 ACC champion Tigers, and spent his entire pro career with the Jaguars, with whom Shatley reached the AFC championship game in 2017.
He played 145 total games for Jacksonville, including a franchise-record 140 consecutive games spanning 2015-2023, and started 51 games at center or guard. He is also a former Jaguars’ NFL Man of the Year award nominee.
Shatley was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation in August 2023 and missed training camp that season but came back healthy for the regular season. Shatley said both in August and again last week that his desire to spend more time with family was the driving force behind his decision to call it a career.
“To my family – my foundation – thank you for everything,” Shatley wrote in this week’s post. “To my dad, for teaching me the value of hard work and discipline, and my mom, for your constant encouragement. To my siblings, grandparents, and all my relatives who showed up to cheer me on, your support has meant the world to me.
“To my wife, Natalie, thank you for your selfless love and unwavering support. … To my children, you are my heart. You are my reason to work hard and live with purpose.”
Shatley’s complete retirement post can be found at shorturl.at/eOCC0.
NASCAR champ Logano in town
Three-time and reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano on Jan. 23 from 5-7 p.m. will be in Morganton at Planet Fitness, located at 907 W. Union St.
Fans will get a chance to see the car Logano drove to the 2024 season title, and the event will also contain live music, raffles, and prize giveaways.
Draughn’s Mull named all-state
Draughn senior Jacob Mull last week was named to HighSchoolOT.com’s fifth annual all-state football team.
HSOT selects four all-state football teams: one apiece for offense, defense, special teams, and two-way players. Mull appeared on the all-state special teams unit as a second-team selection at long snapper. He was one of 10 total players and was the only long snapper on the second team.
Mull is a two-time all-county and all-conference honoree who is also a Gardner-Webb signee and recently became Draughn’s first player to appear in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.
He also played tight end, H-back, and linebacker for the Wildcats this fall and recorded 224 receiving yards, three total touchdowns, and 19 tackles (three for loss).
EB girls, Freedom boys ranked
The East Burke girls basketball team remains the county’s lone squad to appear in the latest top 25 statewide rankings (regardless of classification) by HighSchoolOT.com, while the Freedom boys join the EB girls in the top 15 of the 828 area code rankings.
The one-loss Lady Cavaliers are ranked No. 15 in the state overall and No. 3 in the area code. Undefeated McDowell, who gave EB its lone loss in Marion last month, is ranked No. 9, and the only other program from any local conference in the girls top 25 is No. 20 Watauga.
The two-loss Patriots are ranked seventh in the area code. The only local top-25 team in the boys state rankings is No. 25 McDowell.
GA Sports HOF inductions Jan. 25
The 13th annual Glen Alpine Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet has a new date after the event was postponed in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in October. The event will now be held Saturday, Jan. 25 at 5 p.m. at the Glen Alpine United Methodist Fellowship Center.
Tickets cost $20 each and will include a catered meal, and they will be available for purchase soon at Carolina Ribbon, Foxhole Pizza, and the Glen Alpine Town Hall.
This year’s inductees include Norvin Clontz, Raymond McDowell, Vic Poteat, and Una Smith Reep. Those four will bring the Glen Alpine Sports HOF to a total of 57 members since its founding in 2012.
Silver Creek announces winter tourneys
Silver Creek Golf Club recently announced details for three tournaments for the months of January and February.
The Winter Two-Person Texas Scramble will be held Jan. 18 with a 10 a.m. shotgun start. The event will have both a gross and net division. Entry cost is $80 or $35 plus cart fee for members and includes golf, range balls, and food after the round.
The Super Bowl Scramble will be Feb. 9 and also feature a 10 a.m. shotgun start. Each team in the scramble will contain an A, B, C, and D list player (grouped by handicap), and the A players will serve as captains and select their teams. Entry cost is $80 or $35 plus cart fee for members and includes golf, range balls, breakfast, and snacks after the round.
And the Couples Valentine’s Scramble will be Feb. 15 with an 11 a.m. shotgun start. The two-person scramble event will use a stableford scoring system. Entry cost is $130 per team or $40 plus cart fee per team for members and includes golf, money toward the prize purse, and a meal after the round.
Call the pro shop at 828-584-6911 for more details or to register.
(1) comment
Tyler is one of the finest young men to ever come out of Burke County. And he was a great football player.
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