Former Hoosier Shaun Shivers Signs With Seattle Seahawks as Undrafted Free Agent

Running back Shaun Shivers, who spent one season at Indiana after four years at Auburn and was the Hoosiers' leading rusher a year ago, signed with the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday as an undrafted free agent. Shivers gained 592 yards at Indiana last season.

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana running back Shaun Shivers is going to get his chance in the NFL. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent on Saturday.

Shivers, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla. native, spent one year at Indiana after four years at Auburn. He finally got a chance to start, and gained 592 yards with six rushing touchdowns for the Hoosiers, who went 4-8 a year ago. He averaged 4.1 yards per carry, and also caught 22 passes out of the backfield.

Shivers to the Seahawks. #ProIU | #GoHawks pic.twitter.com/G9cMXHQrne

— Indiana Football (@IndianaFootball) April 30, 2023

Shivers' size — he's only 5-foot-7 and 186 pounds — likely kept him out of the seven rounds of the draft, but he'll at least get a shot in Seattle. Former Michigan State standout Kenneth Walker was their leading rusher last year with 1,050 yards, and they drafted two running backs this weekend, Zach Charbonnet from UCLA in the second round and Kenny McIntosh of Georgia in the seventh round. 

He was one of five Indiana players who were signed to deals after the 2023 NFL Draft. No Hoosiers were drafted. (Stories are the other four players are linked below.)

Five Indiana football players signed deals as undrafted free agents on Saturday. (Graphic by IU Athletics)

Here's is the pre-draft evaluation of Shivers from Sports Illustrated's NFL Draft Bible:

THE POSITIVES: Dynamic runner in short areas who easily makes bigger defenders miss with his cutting ability, which is helped by a low center of gravity. Shivers possesses great acceleration, exploding out of his cuts. When bouncing runs, he is able to beat defenders to the corner using his burst. Shivers runs as hard as his frame allows him to, lowering his shoulder and driving his legs. His small surface area alongside his elusiveness gives defenders little chance to get a good angle on him. Shivers is creative in space and adjusts quickly to catch off-target passes underneath. 

THE NEGATIVES: Severely undersized back who is tackled easily if defenders get an angle on him. Lacking strength, Shivers is unable to absorb and gets blown up in pass protection. He is inconsistent reading and anticipating leverage. Below average vision is reflected by him not following lead blockers and failing to read the second level. Despite good step frequency, his small stride length limits him to below-average long speed. Shivers is not nuanced as a route runner, being unable to take advantage of his agility. Very short and small runner who is dynamic in short areas and runs as hard as his frame allows him to. 

Shivers makes it hard for defenders to get an angle on him. Once they do, he is tackled easily, lacking strength and having below-average vision. Shivers projects as a change of pace back who is a practice squad caliber player until he improves his route running and vision. He could become a contributor down the road but will never start due to his limitations. 

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