The Colorado passing attack boasted names like Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter, but the Buffaloes had more weapons. Did Vanderbilt transfer Will Sheppard help or hurt his NFL Draft stock by returning for a fifth college football season?
Will Sheppard Profile and Measurements
Height: 6024
Weight: 195
Position: Wide Receiver
School: Colorado
Current Year: Senior (Fifth Year)
Will Sheppard Scouting Report
Strengths
- Impressive length
- Flashes eye manipulation and foot speed on initial releases versus press
- Above-average brakes and lack of wasted steps on hard transitions back to the ball
- Flashes dead-leg and some post-catch wiggle when keeping center of gravity low
- Uses frame to shield defenders over the middle
- Secondary release manipulation is impressive
- Efficient footwork and strong plan allow him to separate against off-coverage defenders
- Understands how to find space against zone
- Strong spatial awareness as a run blocker with adequate effort
Weaknesses
- Lacks threatening vertical burst
- Inconsistent hands throughout college career
- Unable to finish well through contact because of lackluster play strength
- Uninspiring burst and contact balance after the catch
- Entangled often by physicality along the route stem
- Lack of physicality makes him an inconsistent presence in the run game
- Natural separation quickness underwhelms
- Tracking and finishing on the vertical plane are wholly inconsistent
Summary and Draft Projection
Sheppard falls in line with the archetype of wide receiver many draftniks have fallen for over the years. His length, fluidity, and flashes of wiggle in open space offer hope that the receiver can carve out a role at the NFL level. However, we’ve seen a similar picture before.
Play strength, particularly for an outside receiver who will be asked to play on the line of scrimmage often, is paramount. Unfortunately, Sheppard falls short here. He struggles finishing through contact and his catch technique remains inconsistent.
Even though the long, lean pass catcher flashes some impressive wiggle as an unencumbered route runner and in space with the ball in his hands, it’s not enough to consistently create separation against NFL athletes.
If Sheppard possessed high-end play strength along with that wiggle, his potential to carve out an NFL role would be easier to project. Unfortunately, he’s unable to use his length and frame to consistently gain separation at the top of routes against man coverage. All his work is done in open zone windows or as a mesh runner.
In the end, it’s not easy for 4.6 receivers to find success at the NFL level. Add in lackluster play strength, and it’s hard to envision a sustained NFL career demanding snaps on Sundays.