Shelton played football in his early years but sat out the first half of his senior season to concentrate on basketball.
He was a second-team All-American pick by The Sports Network that year, and a first-team All-Mid-American Conference selection each of his final two seasons.
Shelton was selected with the 21st overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals and then-head coach Vince Tobin.
He went on to play in nine games, including seven starts, making his NFL debut in a reserve role against the New York Giants on October 10.
Shelton started all 16 games at left tackle in 2002, the second consecutive season in which he opened every contest and the only Arizona offensive lineman to achieve that feat in 2002.
He was inactive for season opener at the St. Louis Rams, and was placed on Injured Reserve with a knee injury on December 14 which caused him to miss the final three contests.
As a free agent in 2005, Shelton received interest from teams like the Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Shelton arrived at Browns camp slightly out of shape, but went on to impress head coach Romeo Crennel and won the left tackle job.
He started all 16 games at left tackle in his lone season for the Browns and was part of a line that led the way for running back Reuben Droughns, who amassed 1,232 yards rushing as he became Cleveland's first 1,000-yard rusher since 1985.
They worked on a new contract with Shelton and his agent before and after free agency began, but the Miami Dolphins signed him to a four-year deal on March 15.
While the line was never exceptional in 2006, the combination that included Shelton at right guard and Damion McIntosh at left tackle did help the progression of the team's offense as the season went on.