Hailing from Decatur, Alabama, Deterrian “DT” Shackelford graduated from Austin High School and made his way to Oxford, where he was a starting linebacker for the Ole Miss football team. During his time on the gridiron, Shackelford was a five-time SEC Academic Honor Roll selection, a two-time semifinalist for the National Football Foundation Scholar-At
hlete Award and a two-time member of the SEC Community Service Team. He was also named captain of the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team. In 2013, he was a semifinalist for the Coach Wooden Citizenship Cup award. Shackelford was nominated for the Wuerffel Trophy in 2010 and 2013 before winning the honor in 2015. The Wuerffel Trophy honors college football athletes who achieve greatness on the field and in the classroom while also serving others. While earning off-the-field accolades, he helped the 2014 team lead the nation in scoring defense. His hard work on the field followed him to the classroom where he earned undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees, all from his alma mater.
Shackelford’s journey at Ole Miss was not without challenges. He suffered multiple knee injuries that threatened to derail his football career. However, Shackelford’s resilience and determination saw him through, and he returned to the field each time with renewed vigor and determination. During his time in Oxford, he was a mentor to Oxford youth and led mission trips to Haiti and Panama. He also found time to help lead efforts to fight hunger and fundraise to increase cancer research.
Following his time in Oxford, Shackelford had stints in Chicago and Dallas, where he used his talents to uplift communities and serve as a motivational speaker. His journey has ultimately led him back to his hometown of Decatur. The town’s nonprofit, Neighborhood Christian Center (NCC), is Shackelford’s next stop. He and His wife, Jhorden, have stepped into positions of leadership at the organization where he once attended as a child. From life skills, parenting classes, job training and many other offerings to providing resources such as a food pantry, clothes closet, youth summer leadership opportunities and transitional housing, the NCC allows the Shackelfords to bless their community with their drive to continue and expand the ministry.