A. Q. Shipley

Allan Quay "A. Q." Shipley (born May 22, 1986) is an American football center who is currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football for Penn State.

Shipley has also been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Early years
Shipley attended Moon Area High School in Moon Township, Pennsylvania. As a team captain, he helped the football team reach the 2003 WPIAL Class AAA semifinals. He was a named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25, and the Harrisburg Patriot-News Platinum 33 lists and played in the 2004 Big 33 Football Classic. He also was a three-year starter in basketball, helping to lead the team to win the 2003-2004 PIAA state championship.

Regarded as four-star recruit by Rivals.com, Shipley was listed as the No. 12 defensive tackle prospect in the class of 2004.

College career
Shipley began the 2008 season on the Lombardi, Outland, and Rimington Trophy watchlists. By October, he had earned mid-season All-American honors from Sports Illustrated, College Football News, CBS Sports, and Phil Steele. At season's end, he was awarded the Rimington Trophy, awarded annually to the best center in college football. He was also named an All-American, a consensus first team All-Big Ten selection, and the conference's Offensive Lineman of the Year.

During his career at Penn State, Shipley switched positions on the offensive and defensive lines, several times. Shipley's redshirt freshmen season at Penn State began with him playing on the offensive line and ended with him playing defense. At the beginning of the 2006 season Shipley was switched back to the offensive line and he spent the season as the starting center and anchored the offensive line for Tony Hunt's record-setting senior season. Shipley is known for his engaging personality and has served as the team Santa Claus for the Nittany Lions annual Christmas party. He is a team leader who has sought out leaderships positions. I just love being a leader, love being the center, knowing that the play starts with me and being able to control the offensive line, when I played high school basketball, I loved having the ball in my hands for the last shot. I like to be able to try to raise other people's play.

Shipley earned a Bachelor of Science in labor studies from Penn State in 2008.

He was a 2008 team captain for the Nittany Lions. He was the recipient of the 2008 Dave Rimington Trophy.

Pre-draft
Shipley was invited to the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine where he bench pressed 33 reps of 225 lbs. (fifth among offensive linemen at the combine) and measured a 31-inch vertical jump (eighth among offensive linemen at the combine). He ran 7.46 in the 3 cone drill and 4.40 in the 20 yard shuttle (second and fifth, respectively, among offensive linemen at the combine). Shipley turned heads when he scored a 40 on the Wonderlic Test—double the average score for NFL draft prospects.

Pittsburgh Steelers
Shipley was drafted 226th overall in the 7th round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He signed a three-year contract with the team on June 18, 2009. He was waived on September 4, 2009. He was re-signed to the practice squad on September 6.

Philadelphia Eagles
Shipley was signed to a three-year contract by the Philadelphia Eagles on January 11, 2010. He was waived on September 4, 2010, and re-signed to the team's practice squad on September 5, 2010. He spent the entire season on the practice squad, and was re-signed to a future contract on January 10, 2011. He was waived during final cuts on September 2.

Indianapolis Colts
Shipley was signed by the Indianapolis Colts on January 29, 2012. When Samson Satele got hurt in the fourth quarter of the December 9th game Shipley filled in.