Shanle walked-on at the University of Nebraska and earned a football scholarship after he redshirted in the fall of 1998.
As a redshirt freshman in 1999, he appeared in every game, mainly as the up-front blocker on the punt return team.
He was waived on December 10, to make room for guard Scott Tercero who was promoted from the practice squad.
After injuries forced Dat Nguyen into retirement, Shanle moved into the starting lineup at weakside linebacker.
[6] In 2006, he was acquired to improve the linebacker corps, reuniting with head coach Sean Payton, who was the offensive coordinator with the Cowboys.
He became a starter at weakside linebacker, leading the team with 77 solo tackles, he was second with 117 total tackles, while registering four sacks, a forced fumble and one pass defensed and helped lead the Saints to the NFC Championship Game vs Chicago.
He was the team's leading tackler during their playoff run that included wins over opposing quarterbacks Kurt Warner, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning in Super Bowl XLIV.
In 2010, he started 14 games at weakside linebacker, missing contests with a hamstring injury against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns.