BOULDER — Black and gold is in Will Sheppard’s DNA. After beginning his career in those colors at Vanderbilt, Sheppard didn’t have to change his wardrobe much when he transferred to Colorado this summer for his final year of eligibility. Sheppard also grew up in southeast Louisiana, so naturally he was a fan of the black and gold uniforms of the New Orleans Saints, who played a short drive across Lake Pontchartrain from his hometown of Madisonville.
That’s why you might be shocked to hear who his favorite individual player is. “Julio Jones,” the 6-foot-3 Sheppard told The Denver Gazette recently. How on earth does a die-hard Saints fan fall in love with someone on the rival Atlanta Falcons? “Just (him) being able to do everything and having no flaws,” Sheppard said.
That’s what the Buffaloes believe they’ve gotten in Sheppard, who comes to CU after a standout career in Nashville, where he put up huge numbers over the last three seasons for the Commodores and is the only newcomer with an all-conference selection at a Power 4 program out of the dozens that have joined the Buffs since Deion Sanders was hired. “I’ve seen everything we anticipated seeing when we brought him in here,” CU wide receivers coach Jason Phillips said. “He has a level of physicality, coming from the SEC, that we desperately need in that room.
Obviously, his experience is the biggest thing. The guy’s played a lot of football, so he has something to add to the room as far as knowledge and experience. We’re just excited about him being here and putting him in the mix with all the other guys that we have and just letting this talent speak for itself.
” Everyone knows the returners in the Buffs wide receiver room. From Travis Hunter to Jimmy Horn Jr. to Omarion Miller, there’s more than enough production back.
And everyone got a chance to see how good Florida Atlantic transfer LaJohntay Wester is during the spring game. But Sheppard, who just arrived in Boulder this summer, showed during Friday’s open practice at All-City Stadium why he’s as good a bet as anyone to be the top target for quarterback Shedeur Sanders this season. CU Buffs Star QB Shedeur Sanders with a BEAUTIFUL Deep Ball to 6’3 WR Will Sheppard at Open Practice in Denver pic.
twitter.com/tHv6dUkTEP “One of the main reasons why I chose to come here is to play with him, play with someone of that caliber. It’s been exactly what I thought it was gonna be — extreme attention to detail, route detail, coverage detail, putting the ball exactly where it needs to be.
(We) just keep building that chemistry every day.” Colorado senior wide receiver Will Sheppard (14) catches a pass during an open practice on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024 at All-City Stadium in Denver.
The Sanders-Sheppard connection has been on display since the first day in camp and it’s not hard to picture Sheppard becoming the go-to target in the red zone given his size and ability to go up and make contested catches. After three full seasons in the starting lineup at Vanderbilt, Sheppard finished his career there third all-time in receiving touchdowns and seventh in receiving yards. All that experience against the Alabamas and Georgias of the world should have him ready to contribute right away in a Big 12 conference not exactly known for its stout defenses.
“I went up against a bunch of great defenses, a bunch of great defensive lines, which made it harder on us because we had to speed up our process, and then there’s great corners on the outside,” Sheppard said. “Being able to play at that high level is gonna make it easier coming in and transitioning to this conference.” FILE - Vanderbilt wide receiver Will Sheppard (14) scores the game winning touchdown against Kentucky during an NCAA college football game in Lexington, Ky.
, Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. Vanderbilt opens their season at home against Hawaii on Aug.
26. (AP Photo/Michael Clubb, File) Even though he’s got just a few months left to prove to the NFL that he’s capable of playing at the next level, Sheppard isn’t feeling the pressure. He spent all of 2023 feeling the need to put up stats every week, thinking that would be his last in college.
This year will be for sure. Lucky for him, he’s got plenty of teammates around him in the same position. “I think it makes it a lot easier to not put as much pressure on myself because I know there’s a lot of guys in our room specifically (where) we’re all going to the same place next year,” Sheppard said.
“We’ve all got one year left, so we’re all just focused on building each other up.”.
