Biography

Shawn Elliott was not the fastest player on a football field, nor was he the most gifted. He was, however, a tough physical football player who played with intelligence and instinct, and during the 1990 and 1991 seasons he was one of the premier defensive players in the Hockomock League.

Much like fellow North High inductee Jim Cryan, Shawn was a quiet team leader who simply loved to play the game, and consistently accomplished his job in an unselfish manner. A 6' 1, 175 lb. free safety that played like a linebacker, the Rocketeers implemented a special defense on opening night of Shawn's senior season to take advantage of his unique capabilities. Elliott and his two fellow linebackers were to mirror the quarterback and running backs in the highly touted wishbone offense of Dartmouth High, and the result was a 26-7 non-league victory over the EMASS Div III powerhouse.

As a two-year starter at free safety, Shawn was involved in 91 tackles, recovered 2 fumbles, and intercepted 2 passes to help the Big Red limit 4 of their first six opponents to 1 touchdown or less during the '91 season. In a 49-13 win over Stoughton, "Elliott was everywhere all night" according to a local newspaper.

Playing on a team with a high-powered offense led by Hall of Famers Brian Sankey and Pat Bannon, Elliott's efforts did not receive big headlines. However, his coaches and teammates understood what the captain meant to their team. "He's our quarterback in the secondary...he's one of 3 or 4 guys who are real keys to this team, and one of the better hitters we've had in the secondary", noted head coach Ray Beaupre. Three times Elliott was named Defensive Player of the Week by the coaching staff, and as a senior he was also the recipient of the North End Zone Annual Unsung Player Award. Elliott capped his career with his selection to The Sun Chronicle and Hockomock League All Star Teams, and the Red Rocketeer Defensive Player of the Year.