Russell Shepard

Russell Shepard
No. 19Carolina Panthers
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Date of birth: (1990-09-17) September 17, 1990
Place of birth: Houston, Texas
Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight: 195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school: Houston (TX) Cypress Ridge
College: LSU
Undrafted: 2013
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2016
Receptions: 30
Receiving yards: 432
Touchdowns: 3
Player stats at NFL.com

Russell Shepard (born September 17, 1990) is an American football wide receiver and special teamer for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Louisiana State University and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles. Shepard has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

High school career

Shepard attended Cypress Ridge High School in Harris County, Texas. He started his high school career as quarterback.[1]

Although Shepard was heavily recruited by Texas and received interests from Florida, Michigan, and USC,[2] he announced his decision to accept a scholarship from Louisiana State University on March 3, 2008.[3][4] He committed to LSU since he believed he would get the best chance at playing quarterback there.[5] Texas told Shepard that if he didn't win the starting job at quarterback, then he could play other positions. USC likewise found him to be a Reggie Bush-type player in their offense.[6]

He graduated high school in December 2008 to start his college career a semester early. Shepard stated that he intended to learn the team's football system during LSU's spring practices that year.[6]

He played in the 2009 Under Armour All-America Game on January 4, 2009.[7] As of March 2009, he was ranked as the #3 Athlete on ESPN150 for the high school class of 2009.[8]

As a senior, the 6-1, 179-pound Shepard rushed for 1,946 yards and 28 touchdowns and threw for 1,843 yards and 20 touchdowns. Shepard also led Cy-Ridge to a 17-5A district championship in 2007. Alongside Matt Barkley, Shepard was considered the top quarterback of the high school class of 2009 by both Rivals.com[9] and Scout.com[10] before converting to wide receiver upon arriving at LSU.

He was compared to Florida wide receiver Percy Harvin by a Scouts, Inc. reporter.[11]

Awards and honors

College career

Shepard played college football for LSU.

Professional career

Philadelphia Eagles

Shephard was signed as an undrafted free agent following the 2013 NFL Draft.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

One day after being released by the Philadelphia Eagles, Shepard was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 1, 2013.[16]

After leading the team in special teams tackles in 2014, Shepard was named special teams captain for the 2015 season,[17] a role he would reprise in the 2016 season.

Carolina Panthers

On March 10, 2017, Shepard signed a three-year contract with the Carolina Panthers.[18]

Personal life

Shepard's mother is a medical recruiter for a local hospital, and his father runs his own construction business.[14]

References

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