Former Purdue Defensive Tackle Kawann Short Cleared for Football Activity

Kawann Short, a former Purdue defensive tackle, was cleared for football activities after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery last season. He is currently a free agent after spending the last eight seasons with the Carolina Panthers.

Author:
D.J. Fezler
Publish date:
Jul 20, 2021 4:56 PM EDT

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Kawann Short, a former Purdue defensive tackle, was cleared for football activity after undergoing shoulder surgery last season. He is currently a free agent but has already begun speaking with teams.

Short played for the Boilermakers' football program between 2009 and 2012. During his collegiate career, he recorded 186 tackles, 49 for loss, 19.5 sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.

In his final two years at Purdue, short was twice named a first-team All-Big Ten selection and was recognized as a second-team All-American as a senior. He managed to earn second-team All-Big Ten Honors as a sophomore in 2010.

Short's college accolades led him to be selected in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers. He will enter his ninth season in the NFL and is searching for just his second team after spending the previous eight years in Carolina.

Short is a two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle who has tallied 280 tackles, 59 tackles for loss and nine forced fumbles in 99 games. He has also recorded 12 pass deflections at the line of scrimmage and six fumble recoveries.

However, he's been placed on injured reserve twice in the last two seasons and has only appeared in five games during that span. Short, who tore his rotator cuff in 2019 and had season-ending shoulder surgery in 2020, was released back in February.

DREW BREES UNLIKELY TO UNRETIRE: Drew Brees owns some of the most prestigious regular-season passing records in NFL history, but it doesn't appear he will return for the 2021 season. The former Purdue quarterback is preparing for the next stages of his life after retirement. CLICK HERE
PURDUE RECRUITING TARGET SETS COMMITMENT DATE: Four-Star defensive end Joe Strickland out of Brebeuf High School in Indianapolis has narrowed his college choices to Purdue, Indiana and Stanford. He'll officially announce his destination on Thursday, July 22. CLICK HERE
RYAN KERRIGAN NAMED TO ALL-TIME ALL-BIG TEN DEFENSE: Former Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan was recognized by FOX analyst RJ Young as one of the All-Time All-Big Ten defenders. Kerrigan recorded 70 tackles, 12.5 sacks and five forced fumbles during his senior season with the Boilermakers. CLICK HERE
GEORGE KARLAFTIS NAMED TO BEDNARIK AWARD WATCH LIST: Purdue defensive end George Karlaftis was among 11 Big Ten players named to the 2021 Chuck Bednarik Award watch list. He led the Boilermakers with two sacks and had four total tackles despite limited action on the field last season. CLICK HERE
DAVID BELL NAMED TO MAXWELL AWARD WATCH LIST: Purdue wide receiver David Bell was among 11 Big Ten players named to the 2021 Maxwell Award watch list. He recorded 53 receptions, 625 yards and eight touchdowns last season for the Boilermakers. CLICK HERE