From starting his UB football career as a walk-on in 2022, to having one of the best seasons in program history two years later, former Bulls star Shaun Dolac has added to his list of career milestones this past weekend, signing a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Rams.
The linebacker from West Seneca achieved national attention with his form in the 2024-25 season, leading the country in total tackles and breaking the school record at 168. He also earned Mid-American Conference (MAC) Defensive Player of the Year honors and was a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy.
Along with being ranked 6th in UB history for career tackles (391) and 4th for solo tackles (222), Dolac was the first ever Consensus All-American for the Bulls.
Dolac was not the only Buffalo product to receive an opportunity to further his football career. Wide receiver Taji Johnson and punter Ethan Duane both got minicamp invites for the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills, respectively.
Both Johnson and Duane also had impressive showings in their last seasons as Bulls. The former won the 1-MAC award for his contributions and played a pivotal role in securing the Bahamas Bowl for UB. Duane started all 13 games in his final year and earned All-MAC Third Team honors. His punting stats from that season put him in the top 3 in program history for average yards per punt (42.6). He also set a Bahamas Bowl record for yards in a single punt at 68.
With Dolac, Johnson and Duane now reaching the next echelon of football, time will tell how their respective careers unfold.
Rodrigo Feijão is the senior sports editor and can be reached at rodrigo.feijao@ubspectrum.com
