Playing for Louisiana powerhouse Zachary High School, linebacker Dylan Shelmire is another impressive prospect.
At 5’11, 215 pounds with a 3.2 GPA, Shelmire is an athletic linebacker that runs well sideline to sideline and can line up all over the field. The 2nd Team All-District linebacker has the physicality to play inside, but also the speed and hustle to play on the edge or on the outside.
Despite his athleticism and his versatility, the Broncos tackling machine believes the biggest attribute he has at his disposal is actually his intellect and football IQ
“The biggest strengths to my game are my IQ, how physical I am at the point of attack, and just how I carry myself on the field because one thing I know is that you can’t be soft on the football field. You got to be physical at all points of the game. It doesn’t matter if you’re on kickoff, kickoff return. It doesn’t matter if you are a punter. You have to be physical.”
Zachary LB Dylan Shelmire
In order to help improve on his physicality and football knowledge, he has watched and paid attention to a lot of smart linebackers that turned out to be some of the best in the history of the game including Ray Lewis, Luke Kuechly, Demario Davis, and Micah Parsons.
“I’m trying to get to where I’m having the best IQ on the field where I can see okay I see this formation and by watching film, I know they’re probably going to run this play. That’s like the one thing I’ve come to do better at not only over the last season, but also in the last months after the season. In the offseason, I’ve been trying to develop my IQ on the field, and that’s something that I that will play a role this coming spring and also this coming season.”
Zachary 2026 LB Dylan Shelmire
Last season, Shelmire was all over the field stuffing the stat sheet with 72 tackles, 11 TFLs, 2 FFs, a sack, 5 QB hurries, 1 PBU, and 1 fumble recovery.
“Last year, I had a pretty solid season. This year, I want to take it to another step. Instead of 70 tackles, I want to get up to 90 at least. That’s the goal this upcoming season because last year was a good year on a personal level, but I thought it wasn’t good enough. This year is going to be better than the year before.”
Zachary 2026 LB Dylan Shelmire
The offseason has been a good start for Shelmire as he recently took part in Gridiron Football’s Elite Camp at Lamar Dixon Expo Center. At the camp, he ran a 4.7/40 to go with a 4.44 shuttle and a 10’2 broad jump. He also received an offer to play in the 2025 Gridiron Football All-American Bowl Game.
“I’m ecstatic about the offer to play in the bowl game. I felt that I improved and I got to show what I could do at my position.”
Zachary 2026 LB Dylan Shelmire
Suiting up for David Brewerton, who has led the Broncos to four state championships in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2021, Shelmire has high expectations for himself and his team.
“It’s helped me see the game a little different from what I’ve seen it before. The teams that we play against at this level are hard teams and we got to do whatever we can. The strength and conditioning is amazing over there and they are doing everything they can to make ourselves the best athletes on the field. In the film room, it’s helped me as far as my IQ. I’ve done a good job of being a sponge and soaking in everything the program has to offer.”
Zachary 2026 LB Dylan Shelmire
Because of everything the program has to offer, the veteran Zachary leader truly believes that he didn’t help his team achieve the main goal.
“It’s always been the goal. That’s where we want to end our season every single year. That’s where we need to be at going forward.”
Zachary 2026 LB Dylan Shelmire
It is going to be easier said than done as just in Zachary’s district alone, there are three teams that have won state championships within the last five years including Zachary, Catholic, and Central. Competing at a high level against great competition only adds fuel to the fire to be great.
“Iron sharpens iron. Whatever the best competition is, I want to play against it. It doesn’t matter who it is. The best players always play against the best guys. It doesn’t matter what level you play on. I don’t ever want to be on a level where I’m playing against somebody who’s not as good as me. I want to play against the best of the best.”
Zachary 2026 LB Dylan Shelmire
Against some of the best competition the state has to offer, Shelmire has proven that he belongs and colleges are taking notice of that. Currently, schools like Nicholls State and South Alabama have shown interest and he has even received an offer from Lamar.
“I froze when they told me that I was being offered because it was like I’ve been waiting for the moment for it to happen and it happened. We’ve had some solid conversations just talking football. When I went up there a few weeks ago, the one thing I said they were very impressed with was my IQ. That was something that they were very adamant about when they talked to me. During a film session, we split up in position groups, and in my position group, I happened to have the best IQ out of all of them. That was one thing that stood out to me, but I also love their facilities over there and they have a great staff that is all about football.”
Zachary 2026 LB Dylan Shelmire
Playing football since the age of five years old, his father Dedrick Shelmire, who was a National Champion winning tight end at Southern, has played a big part in his football journey.
Now, he wants to fill in his dad’s footsteps by playing football at the next level. Already with an offer, Dylan Shelmire wants to tell his five year old self to keep on pushing and become an even bigger student of the game.
“You’re going to make it. You’re going to make it regardless of what everybody else is telling you. Forget what they’re saying. Do you and you know you’re going to be great.”
Zachary 2026 LB Dylan Shelmire
Our next Gridiron Football Elite Camp of the offseason will take place at John Curtis High School in River Ridge, Louisiana on Saturday, May 24th. Click the image below to pre-register for our next camp!
