Shaun Dolac didn’t play college football on a scholarship. He walked on at the University at Buffalo.
Dolac didn’t get an invite to the NFL Combine in March in Indianapolis, and he wasn’t drafted by an NFL team in April.
The former UB and West Seneca East standout signed with the Los Angeles Rams in the spring as an undrafted free agent.
UB Spring Football Game (copy)
University at Buffalo alumni Shaun Dolac looks on during a spring football game at UB stadium on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
His teammates at UB know exactly what the Rams are getting: A player with a tireless work ethic who has overcome plenty of odds in football.
“You could just tell he sleeps, eats and breathes football,” Tyler Doty, a UB lineman who played at St. Joe’s, said of Dolac. “He was always working and always had the same attitude. Even after he got put on scholarship, he still worked just as hard, if not harder, than when he was a walk-on.”
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Now, he is on the Rams’ 53-man roster.
The Rams announced their first roster Tuesday, the day that NFL teams pared down their rosters after training camp and exhibition games, and Dolac is one of eight linebackers (four inside linebackers, four outside linebackers) with the Rams.
Dolac’s promotion to the Rams made an impact on some of his former teammates at UB, including players who grew up in and played high school football in Section VI and in the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association.
“This means a lot for the Western New York area,” UB wide receiver Nik McMillan said of the possibility of Dolac making the Rams’ roster. “Being able to make a 53-man roster is definitely a big step for him and for the community, just letting everybody else know that one day, you could really do it if you just put the work in.”
McMillan, a former Canisius High standout, recalled Dolac’s daily work ethic at UB, as well as Dolac’s belief in making strong choices.
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“That let me know, if I go on that same path as he was, I could be the next one doing that,” McMillan said.
A good indication that Dolac was about to make the 53-man roster came Saturday, when he did not play in the Rams’ 19-17 loss in their final exhibition game at Cleveland, and, as shown in clips posted on social media, worked with the Rams’ first-team defense in the final week of practices before the exhibition game against the Browns. Dolac also had 14 tackles (six solo, eight assisted) in two exhibition games.
Rams coach Sean McVay told reporters Saturday that Dolac’s absence from the lineup was “a good sign for him” going into the final days of cutting the roster to 53 players.
“We’ll continue to evaluate, but he’s done a really good job,” McVay said.
Dolac had a year of eligibility remaining at UB, but announced in January that he would turn pro after five seasons at UB. He was a consensus All-America selection and the Mid-American Conference's Defensive Player of the Year and led the nation in tackles (168) in 2024 after joining the Bulls as a walk-on in 2020.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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