Sheldon Canley
Encyclopedia
Sheldon Lavell Canley is a former professional American football
running back
in the National Football League
. Canley grew up in Lompoc, California
, where he graduated from Lompoc High School. He then attended Allan Hancock College
(where he earned an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts) in Santa Maria, CA, and then San Jose State University
. At the end of his NCAA career in 1991, Canley was selected to play in both the East West Shrine Game and the Blue-Gray Football Classic
all-star games.
Projected to be drafted higher, Canley was chosen by the San Francisco 49ers
in the seventh round of the 1991 NFL Draft
after severely injuring his hamstring muscle during the SJSU pro day. After spending his first season on injured reserve, Canley was eventually released, in part due to stiff competition in a 49ers offensive backfield that included former first-round pick Dexter Carter
, Tom Rathman
, and 1992 Pro-Bowler Ricky Watters
(a fellow 1991 49ers draftee who coincidentally also sat out his entire rookie season due to injury).
Canley was signed off of waivers from the 49ers by the New York Jets
. He would play in his only NFL regular season game with the Jets, rushing four times for nine yards in a 20-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints
on 26 December 1992.
Canley was part of the 1994 Baltimore Stallions
of the Canadian Football League
, which eventually lost the Grey Cup
game to the BC Lions
, 23-20. Playing behind starter Mike Pringle, during the regular season Canley rushed 31 times for 143 yards and one touchdown, as well as caught six passes for 37 yards. He also made 13 tackles, mostly on special teams.
In 1995, Canley signed with the Denver Broncos of the NFL but was released after the pre-season. Again, strong competition from fellow running backs played a large part in his release; this time his teammates included 1995 Pro-Bowler Glyn Milburn
and then-unknown rookie Terrell Davis
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. Canley grew up in Lompoc, California
Lompoc, California
Lompoc is a city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. The city was incorporated in 1888. The population was 42,434 at the 2010 census, up from 41,103 at the 2000 census....
, where he graduated from Lompoc High School. He then attended Allan Hancock College
Allan Hancock College
Allan Hancock College is a California public community college located in Santa Maria in northern Santa Barbara County. Approximately 11,000 credit and more than 5,500 noncredit and community services students enroll each semester.-History:...
(where he earned an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Arts) in Santa Maria, CA, and then San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
. At the end of his NCAA career in 1991, Canley was selected to play in both the East West Shrine Game and the Blue-Gray Football Classic
Blue-Gray Football Classic
The Blue–Gray Football Classic was an annual American college football all-star game held in Alabama usually on Christmas Day. It was begun in 1939 and held annually through 2001 at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. The game was not contested in 2002 and was subsequently revived in 2003 in...
all-star games.
Projected to be drafted higher, Canley was chosen by the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in the seventh round of the 1991 NFL Draft
1991 NFL Draft
The 1991 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 21–22, 1991 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Manhattan, New York...
after severely injuring his hamstring muscle during the SJSU pro day. After spending his first season on injured reserve, Canley was eventually released, in part due to stiff competition in a 49ers offensive backfield that included former first-round pick Dexter Carter
Dexter Carter
Dexter Anthony Carter is a former running back who played for the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Jets in the National Football League. He was drafted in the first round in the 1990 NFL Draft...
, Tom Rathman
Tom Rathman
Thomas Dean Rathman is a former American football fullback who played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Oakland Raiders . He is currently the running backs coach for the 49ers.-High school:...
, and 1992 Pro-Bowler Ricky Watters
Ricky Watters
Richard "Ricky" James Watters is a former American football running back who played for the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. Watters played college football at the University of Notre Dame where he played wide receiver on the...
(a fellow 1991 49ers draftee who coincidentally also sat out his entire rookie season due to injury).
Canley was signed off of waivers from the 49ers by the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He would play in his only NFL regular season game with the Jets, rushing four times for nine yards in a 20-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
on 26 December 1992.
Canley was part of the 1994 Baltimore Stallions
Baltimore Stallions
The Baltimore Stallions were a Canadian Football League team based in Baltimore, Maryland, which played the 1994 and 1995 seasons. They were the most successful American team in the Canadian Football League, having two winning seasons and a division title. In 1995 they became the only American team...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
, which eventually lost the Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
game to the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
, 23-20. Playing behind starter Mike Pringle, during the regular season Canley rushed 31 times for 143 yards and one touchdown, as well as caught six passes for 37 yards. He also made 13 tackles, mostly on special teams.
In 1995, Canley signed with the Denver Broncos of the NFL but was released after the pre-season. Again, strong competition from fellow running backs played a large part in his release; this time his teammates included 1995 Pro-Bowler Glyn Milburn
Glyn Milburn
Glyn Curt Milburn is a former American football player. He was the General Manager and the Director of Player Personnel for the Austin Wranglers in the Arena Football League...
and then-unknown rookie Terrell Davis
Terrell Davis
Terrell Lamar Davis is a former American football running back who played for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League from 1995 to 2001. Davis was drafted by the Broncos in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL Draft. Davis is the Denver Broncos all-time leading rusher, with 7,607 rushing...
.