It’s strange. On paper, Davonte Shannon doesn’t appear to be building on his true freshman season, one in which he was a first-team all-conference selection.

His statistics are down from the blistering pace he set last season. Shannon in 2007 established a University at Buffalo Division I-A record with 123 tackles, which led all freshmen nationally. But UB coach Turner Gill said the sophomore from Jeannette, Pa., is a better all-around strong safety than he was a season ago.

Except for a 20-tackle day against Army and an 11-tackle effort at Missouri, UB’s first first-team All-Mid-American Conference pick has to play catch-up if he wants to duplicate his freshman numbers by year’s end.

He has recorded just one interception after picking off three last season, and has just 2z tackles for a loss after finishing with 10 a year ago. UB’s leading tackler last season by a wide margin, Shannon is tied with sophomore linebacker Justin Winters for the team lead this season with 62 going into Tuesday night’s game at Ohio University.

“He’s an outstanding player,” Gill said. “I think you saw a little bit more of him (against Army) because of the run game. We got him more involved as far as him making more tackles. He can cover people and be a good tackler but you got a chance to see him as a great athlete being able to tackle in space.”

During the preseason, Shannon was named to the conference’s first team by nearly every publication, but when midseason awards were handed out his name was absent. Still, Gill certainly isn’t upset with Shannon’s play.

“Davonte is no different than where he was last year, but I think he’s a little better player than he was last year,” Gill said. “The great thing about him is that he’s only a sophomore.”

Shannon’s numbers are down because of two factors. He’s playing a different role from a year ago and some of the opponents the Bulls have faced this season rely heavily on the pass instead of the run.

Gill brought in a few new coaches this season, notably defensive backs coach Fred Reed, and some of the schemes have changed, putting Shannon into more zone coverate. Last season, because they played more run-oriented teams, Shannon played closer to the line of scrimmage and even earned one start at linebacker.

“This year, I’m more involved in the passing but last year I was able to play down and get closer to the line and get more tackles,” Shannon said. “But my tackles are starting to pick up.”

Shannon said Reed, who spent the last two seasons coaching the Detroit Lions’ safeties, has helped him become a better player in coverage.

“I wouldn’t say I prefer a specific one, because I like them both,” Shannon said of the schemes he’s played at UB. “We have a new coach coming in, Coach Reed, and he’s a great coach who is teaching us how to play the game. I like Coach Reed’s style of play.”

The Bulls have faced pass-happy teams like UTEP, Missouri, Central Michigan and Western Michigan but Gill didn’t agree that teams are necessarily scheming away from Shannon.

“We’re playing against a lot of four wide and when you’re playing against four wide or three wides and one tight end you’re spread out more,” Gill said. “You’re more in a zone area. The teams that we have been playing are running more of a spread offense.”

With five regular-season games remaining, mostly against teams with a more traditional offensive game plan, don’t expect Shannon to go quietly. Although only 19 games into his career, he’s already closing in on 200 tackles (185) and is on pace for another triple-figures tackle season.

“I like being around the ball,” he said. “Being close to the ball, you get a chance to make plays. I like tackling and being physical. I like playing toward the line. My tackles are picking up.”