The Miami Dolphins wasted no time finding a roster replacement for Alexander Mattison, the running back who underwent season-ending neck surgery after being injured against the Chicago Bears.
The Dolphins reportedly are adding Aaron Shampklin, a 25-year-old who played sparingly for the Pittsburgh Steelers last season.
He traveled a unique road to the NFL.
Shampklin used to be a substitute teacher at Perry Lindsey Academy, a middle school in Long Beach, Calif.
“I worked in the front office,” he told CBS Sports. “If a teacher didn’t show up, they would put me in the classroom. They figured that I was good at math, so they eventually made me a sixth-grade math teacher.”
Shampklin is only 5-feet-10 and 195 pounds, short of Mattison, who at 5-11 and 220 was signed to help solve the Dolphins’ short-yardage problems.
Shampklin was signed by the Steelers off their practice squad last October. He has six career carries for 17 yards (a 2.8 average). He also has returned four kickoffs for 101 yards (25.3 per).
Shampklin also has spent time in the camps of the Chargers and Colts.
Shampklin attended Harvard.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins reportedly adding RB Aaron Shampklin to fill Alexander Mattison roster spot
Reporting by Hal Habib, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
