Shaun Dolac
Getty
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 09: Jalen Brooks #83 of the Dallas Cowboys is tackled by Cam Lampkin #3, Nate Valcarcel #43 and Shaun Dolac #56 of the Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter in a NFL Preseason 2025 game between Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on August 09, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Rams are no strangers to finding impact players outside the NFL Draft, and Shaun Dolac looks like their latest gem.
After going unselected through three days in April, the Buffalo linebacker not only survived final cuts, but quickly impressed Rams coaches with his consistency and football smarts.
Defensive coordinator Chris Shula didn’t hold back when asked about his performances throughout the summer.
“He’s just been a consistent guy from the jump, and a guy that fits in well here and obviously helps on special teams. If he had to play on defense, we wouldn’t have any hesitation at all.”
Dolac stood out across two preseason games, posting 14 tackles (six solo). He showed range sideline-to-sideline and an ability to bring down ball carrier in space.
A Culture Fit With Rams
Landing in Los Angeles was about finding the right football environment for Dolac to show his overlooked skill set. He fits the mold of the fast, decisive nature Sean McVay looks for in players.
From walking on at Buffalo to leading the nation in tackles in 2024, Dolac’s journey is roosted in perseverance. Rams coaches have noticed his ability to pick up the scheme “very fast” and maintain focus like every rep is his last.
“Just a moment just to realize how much I’ve really accomplished in my life,” Dolac told theRams.com after Wednesday’s practice. “Being overlooked, being unvalued, being unappreciated at times, and just realizing, like, because I kept going and because the people who believed in me allowed me to continue to believe in myself as well, allowed me to just really appreciate everything I’ve gone through, and realizing that even through the bad stuff, I have to go through all that to learn from it. And I failed a lot, but without those failures, I wouldn’t be here, being able to learn from those. And like I said, there’s so many people who look up to me and so many people who just believe in me, and it’d be a discredit if I gave up somewhere along the road. And being able to just continue pushing forward and trusting in my faith and trusting in the belief that I’m going to be exactly where I need to be, that was really what I was thinking about (in that moment).”
Special Teams and Defensive Depth
Dolac’s first chance to impact games will likely come on special teams. In a league where roster spots are secured through hidden-yardage plays, he’s already shown resilience with any unit on the field.
But there’s also the insurance he provides at linebacker. Either way, the 23-year-old All-American is on a mission.
“The people back home count on me, and all those kids that might be in a similar position as me, they could look up to me and say, ‘Shaun didn’t get this, didn’t get that, or whatnot, but he kept pushing forward. He kept working for it because he had a dream,'” Dolac said. “And God showed me a dream, and it was my duty to to fill that dream and continue pushing forward no matter what I go through. As long as you continue to put one step forward every single day and stack the days, everything’s going to work out in the end and in God’s favor.”
The Rams open up the season against the Houston Texans on September 7, where Dolac could potentially see time on special teams.