Tribe of Vikings Hall of Fame
Four-time first team All-CCIW, three-time consensus All-America, two-time team captain and member of D3football.com’s All-Decade first team, James “J.D.” Sheldon takes a back seat to no one when discussing the best offensive linemen in the history of a storied Augustana football program. Fittingly, Sheldon joins the Tribe of Vikings Hall of Fame Class of 2014.
During J.D.'s four full seasons at Augustana, the Vikings won 33 of 42 contests and captured two CCIW championships. Behind his blocking, the ground game churned out a remarkable 13,975 rushing yards (almost eight miles), including a school-record 4,445 in 2001. From 1999-2002 the Vikings averaged 332.7 rushing yards per game, 5.2 yards per carry and scored 155 rushing touchdowns. Sheldon helped clear the way for two CCIW Offensive Players of the Year—Joe Schmulbach in 1999 and David Chorney in 2001.
J.D. came to Augustana in 1998 from Harvard, Illinois and Marian Central Catholic High School and made an immediate impact before having his freshman season cut short by a knee injury. It turned out to be a small bump in the road for the 6-4, 295-pound tackle. He returned in 1999 and helped lead Coach Tom Schmulbach’s Vikings to a 9-2 record and a CCIW title. Behind Sheldon and fellow 2014 Tribe inductee Mack Hay, the Augustana ground game produced 3,715 yards (337.7 per game) and 41 touchdowns. The Vikings defeated St. Norbert 39-32 in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs before falling at Mount Union in the second round. The contest against the Purple Raiders was one of the most unusual in the history of Augustana football. Sheldon helped the Viking offense pile up 398 rushing yards and hold the ball for an amazing 48:08 of the 60 minutes, but the explosive Mount Union offense and special teams were enough to lift the hosts to a 42-33 win.
As a sophomore, Sheldon was a first team All-CCIW selection for the second straight year. In addition, he was named to D3football.com, Football Gazette and All-Lutheran All-America teams. The Vikings, under first-year Head Coach Jim Barnes, went 7-3.
In 2001, Augustana finished 10-2, claimed another CCIW title and again reached the NCAA Division III playoffs. Sheldon was the dominant figure on an offensive line that paved the way for a school-record 4,445 rushing yards (370.4 per game and 5.9 per carry) and 49 touchdowns via the ground game. He ran escort for four backs who each rushed for over 500 yards, including Chorney, who ripped off a school-record 1,486. The Vikings hammered Defiance 54-14 in the first round of the playoffs before again falling at Mount Union in the second round. In addition to earning first team all-conference recognition for the third consecutive year, J.D. was named to All-America teams by the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Hewlett Packard, Football Gazette and D3football.com.
As a senior, Sheldon became just the fifth four-time first team All-CCIW honoree in school history, joining Dennis Koster (1969-72), Barry Reade (1987-90), Scott Tumilty (1992-95) and Rusty Van Wetzinga (1992-95). He also repeated on each of the five All-America teams to which he was named the previous year. In addition, Sheldon was selected to play in the 2002 Aztec Bowl in Torreon, Mexico.
After his playing days at Augustana ended, Sheldon stayed active on the gridiron, playing with the Chicago Slaughter of the Continental Indoor Football League and helping the team win a league championship in 2009.
In 2011, D3football.com named Sheldon to its All-Decade first team, honoring players who competed from 2000-09. He had been named to the website’s All-America teams in 2000 (honorable mention), 2001 (first team) and 2002 (first team) and was joined on the All-Decade first team by Augustana’s Blaine Westemeyer (2006-09), who occupied the other offensive tackle spot.
These days, J.D. resides in Mundelein, Illinois with his wife, Rose and daughter, Brooke. After graduating from Augustana in 2002 with a business administration degree, he earned his MBA from the University of Phoenix. He’s worked as a director for Apex Financial Management in Buffalo Grove, Illinois and as Chief Financial Officer at Dynia & Associates in Chicago, Illinois. He’s currently Vice President at Kolz Associates.
Highlights sited by Sheldon of his Augustana years include “the camaraderie with all the athletes and small school atmosphere,” as well as “competing at a high athletic level while setting up the knowledge needed to succeed after college.”
