Will Sheppard
{{Short description|American football player (born 2002)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
|name=Will Sheppard
|currentteam=Tampa Bay Buccaneers
|number=
|position=Wide receiver
|birth_date= {{birth date and age|2002|2|11}}
|birth_place=Ruston, Louisiana, U.S.
|height_ft=6
|height_in=2
|weight_lb=203
|high_school=Mandeville
(Mandeville, Louisiana)
|college=Vanderbilt (2020–2023)
Colorado (2024)
|highlights=
|undraftedyear=2025
|pastteams=
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{nfly|2025}}–present)
|status=Undrafted free agent
}}
William Miles Sheppard (born February 11, 2002){{Cite web |last=Amico |first=Anthony |title=2025 NFL Draft Prospect Database {{!}} Establish The Run |url=https://establishtherun.com/2025-nfl-draft-prospect-database/ |access-date=2025-02-09 |language=en-US}} is an American football wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Vanderbilt Commodores and Colorado Buffaloes.
Early life
Sheppard was born in Ruston, Louisiana, and attended Mandeville High School. In Sheppard's high school career, he hauled in 126 receptions for 2,252 yards, and 33 touchdowns.{{cite web |title=Will Sheppard |url=https://vucommodores.com/roster/will-sheppard-2/ |website=Vanderbilt University Athletics |access-date=10 September 2023}} Sheppard committed to play college football at Vanderbilt.{{cite web |last1=Pervel |first1=Mike |title=Mandeville trio, including Will Sheppard, signs to play college football |url=https://www.nola.com/news/communities/st_tammany/mandeville-trio-including-will-sheppard-signs-to-play-college-football/article_66fdb2f4-50f3-11ea-9921-bbe25f7b05b8.html |website=NOLA.com |access-date=10 September 2023}}
College career
=Vanderbilt=
In Sheppard's first season in 2020, he caught two passes for 30 yards.{{cite web |title=Will Sheppard College Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/will-sheppard-1.html |website=Sports Reference |access-date=10 September 2023}} In week 5 of the 2021 season, he racked up eight receptions for 119 yards and two touchdowns in a 30–28 win over UConn.{{cite web |last1=Tallbot |first1=Bowman |title=From sidelines to stardom: the tremendous rise of Will Sheppard |url=https://vanderbilthustler.com/2021/10/24/from-sidelines-to-stardom-the-tremendous-rise-of-will-sheppard/ |website=The Vanderbilt Hustler |access-date=10 September 2023}} Sheppard took a step up in the 2021 season, finishing the year with 43 receptions for 577 yards and four touchdowns. In week 3 of the 2022 season, he tallied ten receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Northern Illinois.{{cite web |last1=McCarthy |first1=Jack |title=Freshman QB Swann leads Vanderbilt past Northern Illinois |url=https://apnews.com/article/college-football-sports-illinois-dekalb-will-sheppard-632ee9da9ecd7e14f1867756de51029c |website=AP News |access-date=10 September 2023}} Sheppard finished his breakout 2022 season with 60 receptions for 776 yards and nine touchdowns, earning second-team all-SEC honors.{{cite web |title=Vanderbilt football: Will Sheppard stats a key to success in 2023 |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2023/08/03/will-sheppard-vanderbilt-football-receiver-stats-all-sec-alex-bailey/70520817007/ |website=The Tennessean |access-date=10 September 2023}}
Ahead of the 2023 season, Sheppard was named preseason second-team all-SEC and a member of the Fred Biletnikoff Award watchlist.{{cite web |title=2023 Preseason Coaches All-SEC Football Team announced |url=https://www.secsports.com/article/38240143/2023-preseason-coaches-all-sec-football-team-announced |website=Southeastern Conference |access-date=10 September 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Glennon |first1=John |title=Vanderbilt WR Will Sheppard earning national attention |url=https://www.nashvillepost.com/sports/football/vanderbilt-wr-will-sheppard-earning-national-attention/article_d39f979a-36f7-11ee-b24e-5349aa4bb08e.html |website=Nashville Post |access-date=10 September 2023}} In the season opener, he hauled in six passes for 68 yards and two touchdowns in a 35–28 win over Hawaii.{{cite web |title=Swann throws for 3 TDs as Vanderbilt holds off Hawaii 35-28 in opener |url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/gametracker/recap/NCAAF_20230826_HAWAII@VANDY/ |website=CBS Sports |access-date=10 September 2023}} On December 3, 2023, Sheppard announced that he would be entering the transfer portal.{{cite web|url=https://vanderbilthustler.com/2023/12/03/breaking-vanderbilt-wide-receiver-will-sheppard-enters-transfer-portal/|title=BREAKING: Vanderbilt wide receiver Will Sheppard enters transfer portal|website=The Vanderbilt Hustler|first=Anish|last=Mago|date=December 3, 2023|access-date=December 6, 2023}}
=Colorado=
On December 14, 2023, Sheppard announced that he would be transferring to Colorado.{{cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2023/12/14/will-sheppard-vanderbilt-football-deion-sanders-colorado-transfer-portal/71925125007/|title=Vanderbilt football's Will Sheppard transferring to Colorado|website=The Tennessean|first=Aria|last=Gerson|date=December 14, 2023|access-date=December 14, 2023}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 2
| weight = 203
| dash = 4.59
| shuttle = 4.31
| vertical = 38.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 6
| arm span = 32 1/4
| hand span = 9 7/8
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://mktg.zebra.com/BigXIIProDayInsights |title=Big 12 Pro Day Performance Tracker |website=MKTG.Zebra.com |access-date=April 8, 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1045120&DraftYear=2025 |title=Will Sheppard College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=April 8, 2025}}
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://cubuffs.com/sports/football/roster/will-sheppard/16962 Colorado Buffaloes bio]
- [https://vucommodores.com/roster/will-sheppard-2/ Vanderbilt Commodores bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheppard, Will}}
Category:Players of American football from Louisiana
Category:People from Madisonville, Louisiana
Category:American football wide receivers