ASHLAND, Ohio — Adam Shaheen will join another Ohioan in the Windy City.
The Chicago Bears selected Ashland University’s All-American tight end with the 45th overall pick in the second round of the NFL Draft on Friday.
The 6-foot-6, 278-pound Shaheen will be paired with quarterback Mitchell Trubisky of Mentor. The Bears traded up Thursday to select Trubisky with the second overall pick in the first round.
A two-time American Football Coaches Association Division II All-American, Shaheen rewrote Ashland’s record books the past two years. The former college basketball player from Galena and Sunbury Big Walnut High School had 129 career receptions for 1,755 yards and 26 touchdowns. He caught a single-season record 16 TDs last fall.
Shaheen was unavailable for comment Friday night.
“This whole process has been pretty amazing,” Shaheen said in the days leading up to the draft. “I am looking forward to the next step. Wherever I end up, I’m ready to grind.”
Shaheen, who had a year of college eligibility remaining, is the highest ever draft pick from AU. Jeris Pendleton was selected by Jacksonville in the seventh round in 2012. Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Jamie Meder was an undrafted rookie free agent when he signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 2014.
Bears tight end coach Frank Smith was one of six tight end coaches to attend Ashland’s pro day in Massillon in March.
“That’s really unusual,” AU coach Lee Owens said that day. “The tight end position coaches who were here really liked what they saw.”
Shaheen was one of seven tight ends listed on Chicago’s roster Friday evening. Eight-year veteran Zach Miller, who caught 47 passes for 486 yards and four touchdowns last year, is in the final year of a two-year contract. Dion Sims signed a three-year deal in March. Sims caught 26 passes for 256 yards and four touchdowns for the Miami Dolphins last season.
“Adam is going to be a very good pro,” AU tight ends coach Reggie Gamble said at AU’s pro day in March. “Am I surprised where he is at? No, because I know how hard he worked.
“Is it still unbelievable? Yeah. It’s exciting it’s happening for this kid.”
Coverage of Ashland University Eagles athletics is produced in partnership with OhioHealth, the official sports medicine provider for Ashland University and dozens of high schools and universities throughout Ohio.
