On Forte: Two-year starter and fifth-year senior at safety who returns for his final season … has played both safety positions … preseason second team All-ACC by Lindy's Preseason Annual … size, speed, strength and experience helped him contribute to Maryland's improved secondary play in 1999 … was named the team's top senior performer during 2000 spring drills … has shown continued progress in the Terp secondary after originally coming to Maryland as a running back ... was moved to defensive back in the spring of 1997.

1999: Nine-game starter at free safety who finished second on the team in interceptions and tied for eighth in tackles … played in a total of 10 games, missing the North Carolina contest with a burner to his shoulder suffered the previous week vs. Clemson … posted a season-high 10 tackles (nine solos) in a road win at Wake Forest … had seven tackles each vs. Georgia Tech and Virginia … finished second on the team in pass breakups (5) … recorded a career-best two interceptions vs. Florida State … also had picks vs. West Virginia and Virginia … ranked tied for sixth in the ACC and 49th nationally in interceptions per game (0.4) … took over the starting free safety position after playing the previous season at strong safety.

1998: Played and started in nine games in his first full season … earned the No. 1 position at strong safety during spring drills … despite missing games vs. Clemson and Wake Forest, finished second among Maryland defensive backs with 64 tackles, including 42 solos … career-high 13 tackles at Duke … had 11 stops in season finale vs. NC State ... contributed one of Maryland's record seven interceptions at Duke … had a sack and tackle for loss vs. Temple, and a sack in the season opener vs. JMU.

1997: Missed his redshirt freshman season because of a broken leg suffered in spring drills ... was moved from running back to defensive back in the spring.

1996: Redshirt season.

High School: Graduated from Poughkeepsie High School in 1996 ... an all-state quarterback who accumulated 1,500 yards of total offense and 22 touchdowns as a senior ... was an All-American selection by BlueChip Illustrated and an All-East choice by SuperPrep, National Recruiting Advisor and Tom Lemming. ... also lettered in basketball and track ... high school coaches were Keith Thompson and Tony Drakeford.

Personal: Shawn A. Forte … born Jan. 20, 1977 ... son of Gail and Willie Williams ... majoring in American studies.

Defense	G-GS	UT	AT	TT	TFL	Sacks	Int
1998	9-9	42	22	64/7.1	4-17	1.0-8	1-10
1999	10-9	37	10	47/4.7	2-3	0-0	4-13
Totals	19-18	79	32	111/5.8	6-20	1-8	5-23

Forte Up Close
Someday I would like to take a trip to: Rio
If I lost all my possessions except one, I'd want to keep: my sense of humor
If I could change one thing in the world, it would be: racism
If I could change any rule in college football, it would be: allow celebration
The best advice I've ever received is: "Play hard, good things will happen."
My craziest ambition is: to be a writer

Shawn Forte Hometown: Poughkeepsie, N.Y. High School: Poughkeepsie Height / Weight: 6-0 / 201 Position: Free Safety Birthdate: 01/20/1977 Experience: 2V Honors: All-ACC Candidate