Football

For Immediate Release

January 23, 2012

Courtesy of the Merrimack Athletics Communications Staff

North Andover, Mass. – Merrimack senior linebacker Shawn Loiseau participated in one of the most prestigious college football all-star games on Saturday afternoon in St. Petersburg, Fla., the East-West Shrine Game.

To read Loiseau's Blog from the week leading up to the game, click here.

Loiseau impressed all afternoon long as his high motor was on display all game, as he was consistently in on plays, both defensively and on special teams. Loiseau played a majority of the game and was calling the plays in the huddle on the last series of the game with the score tied at 17.

Loiseau was the vocal leader on a defense that was comprised of players from schools such as Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Penn State and Notre Dame. Loiseau never gave up on plays and even got spotlighted on the television broadcast.

"I am so proud of Shawn Loiseau," said head football coach John Perry. "He is one of the hardest working players I have ever coached and he deserves the recognition that he has received since being down here. His hard work and determination should help propel him to the next level."

Loiseau's determination and hard work turned heads all week and continued to do the same on Saturday as he improved his draft stock. With the endless number of scouts in attendance, Loiseau made a strong case for being drafted into the NFL come April 26.

" I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to play in this game and can say that I came from a division two school and got to play against the best Division one players in the country," said Shawn Loiseau. "I want to thank everyone back home for all your support. I also want to thank all my coaches and players back at Merrimack for the last four years, it's been unbelievable."

If Loiseau is drafted into the NFL, it will mark the first time a Merrimack football player was drafted into the NFL. Loiseau will try to improve his draft stock even more on February 22-28 as he will be participating in the 2012 NFL scouting combine in the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.