Shaun Cody
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Career Summary
Shaun Cody was an NFL defensive lineman who played eight seasons with Detroit and Houston after an All-American career at USC.
Cody appeared in 112 regular-season NFL games and made 68 starts from 2005 through 2012. He played his first four seasons for the Detroit Lions and his final four for the Houston Texans.
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Early Life
Cody grew up in Hacienda Heights, California.
He attended Los Altos High School in Hacienda Heights after spending his freshman year at Damien High School in La Verne.
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High School
Cody was one of the country's most decorated high-school defensive prospects.
As a Los Altos senior in 2000, he made USA Today's All-USA first team Defensive MVP and was a Parade All-American. He produced 105 tackles and 22 sacks at defensive end while also contributing on offense, and Los Altos finished 14-0 and won the CIF Division VII championship.
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College Career
Cody was a four-year starter and All-American defensive lineman at USC.
At USC, Cody helped the Trojans win national championships in 2003 and 2004. His career totals were 130 tackles, 31.5 tackles for loss, 21 sacks and five blocked field goals; he was the 2004 Pac-10 Co-Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus All-American.
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Path to the NFL
Detroit selected Cody in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft.
The Lions chose Cody after his senior season at USC, where he had been a finalist for the Lombardi and Hendricks awards.
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NFL Career
Cody played 112 NFL games, compiling 190 combined tackles, three sacks and one interception.
Cody played for Detroit from 2005 through 2008 and Houston from 2009 through 2012. His most extensive starting work came in Houston, where he started 13 games in 2009, all 16 in 2010 and 2011, and 12 in 2012.
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Career Accomplishments
Cody won major honors at USC and sustained an eight-year NFL career.
His USC honors included consensus All-American recognition in 2004, Pac-10 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, two first-team All-Pac-10 selections and two national championships.
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Playing Style
Cody played across the defensive line and was known at USC for consistency and effort.
Cody shifted between defensive tackle and defensive end during his USC career. USC coach Pete Carroll described him as consistent, savvy, hard-playing and coachable in technique.
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Legacy
Cody was part of USC's early-2000s resurgence under Pete Carroll.
USC described Cody as the blue-chip recruit who helped launch the Pete Carroll era. He became a four-year starter, an All-American and a two-time national champion.
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Post-Career
Cody moved into USC football broadcasting after his playing career.
USC lists Cody as the radio color commentator on the Trojan Tailgate Show.
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20845, 00-0023472, 1983-01-22, Shaun Cody, Shaun, Cody
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