Football

Buffalo Bulls All-American LB Shaun Dolac says 'my identity is in Christ'

By Kevin Mercer Dec 19, 2024
Buffalo Bulls LB Shaun Dolac, Dec. 12, 2020. (AP/ Photo Jeffrey T. Barnes)

Shaun Dolac, a fifth-year senior linebacker at the University at Buffalo, made program history when the Associated Press college football All-America teams were released this week. He was one of only three linebackers in the country to be named an AP first-team All-American, the first Buffalo Bull ever to be granted such an honor. He was also the first Bull to be a consensus All-American selection, having been named a first-team All-American by four organizations recognized by the NCAA.

Former Bulls Khalil Mack (2013) and Jaret Patterson (2020) were both second-team AP All-Americans, while Gerald LaFountain (1965) was an honorable mention.

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Dolac’s 2024 campaign saw him accumulate an impressive 159 combined tackles (two shy of a program single-season record) โ€” 5.5 of which were sacks โ€” to go along with five interceptions. His 159 tackles leads all of FBS, 16 ahead of teammate Red Murdock, who is second.

For his efforts, Dolac was named the 2024 Mid-American Conference Defensive Player of the Year and the MAC Defensive Player of the Week a program-record five times this fall.

Standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 225 pounds, Dolac was very lightly recruited out of West Seneca East Senior High School in West Seneca, New York. He enrolled for a year at Milford Academy, a post-secondary school, before joining Buffalo just a short drive from his hometown as a preferred walk-on ahead of the 2020 season.

Dolac totaled only 44 combined tackles in his first two seasons in a Bulls uniform but broke out in 2022 with 148 tackles (97 solo). A shoulder injury ended his 2023 season after only four games, and with two years of eligibility still remaining, Dolac decided to transfer to Utah State before the spring semester in 2024. Yet as Dolac petitioned God for His guidance through prayer, he came to the realization that his heart was still in western New York. He transferred back to Buffalo in May.

Dolac spoke about walking through life’s various obstacles when he joined the Sports Spectrum Podcast earlier this month.

“My identity is in Christ,” Dolac said. “Throughout my whole life, I’ve been through a lot of adversities, a lot of obstacles.”

Perhaps the biggest obstacle the linebacker has faced was the death of his father in 2016 due to esophageal cancer. Dolac’s father was his and his four siblings’ primary source of spiritual guidance, and he brought them to church whenever he could.

“Throughout that time, I really found myself searching for Christ,” Dolac said on the podcast. “My dad ended up passing away that year (2016), and sometimes when things happen to people, they tend to turn away from Christ. I had to make a decision to turn towards Him and find Him and search Him and make sure that what I do in my life, it’s for Him and it’s for the glory of Him.

“… Ever since that happened, my faith just grew because that was my comfort โ€” in Jesus. And just learning more and more about Him and having to walk in faith is something that I’m gonna cherish and have forever because you can always continue to learn about God and continue to learn what He wants for you. And ultimately, things aren’t gonna go your way, and it’s how you respond and just continue to praise God for whatever happens.”

One way Dolac seeks to glorify God is on social media, where he lists the Bible verse Jeremiah 29:11 in both his Instagram and X bios. He’s been known to mention his faith in posts as well.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Shaun Dolac (@shaundolac)

“I’m not perfect,” Dolac said on the podcast. “I make mistakes. I sin. I’m not proud of it, but because of Jesus and because He died on the cross for us, our sins are forgiven. And those who believe in Him, you’ll be saved.”

Dolac knows that, although he’s been recognized for his outstanding play on the field, he’s concerned ultimately with pleasing his Heavenly Father.

“I play for an audience of One,” he said. “And realizing that what other people say about me or what other people think about me, it doesn’t really matter. … No matter what, God’s gonna be proud of me. No matter what, God’s gonna be proud of whatever you do as long as you continue to believe in Him and trust in Him.”

Dolac will seek to continue to glorify God as he leads his 8-4 Bulls against Liberty (8-3) in the Bahamas Bowl. Kickoff from Nassau is scheduled for Jan. 4 at 11 a.m. ET.

>> Do you know Christ personally? Learn how you can commit your life to Him. <<

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