Will Sheppard, WR, Colorado
Size:
Height: 6’2” | Weight: 195 lbs
Arm Length: 32 3/8"
Accomplishments:
Second-Team All-SEC (2022)
“Will Sheppard is an experienced, savvy wide receiver who wins with tempo, route-running, and alignment versatility to be a chain-moving and red-zone threat at the next level.”
Strengths:
Red-zone threat
Route-running
Body control
High-point specialist
Concerns:
Vertical explosiveness
Efficiency vs. press alignment
Catch consistency (drops)
Film Analysis:
Will Sheppard comes from an athletic family. His father played football and his mother played volleyball, both at Louisana Tech. Sheppard is a former three-sport high school athlete playing football, track/field, and basketball. The former three-star recruit spent his first four seasons in the SEC playing for Vanderbilt. As a result, he is a battle-tested wide receiver who has faced some of the best athletes in college football.
This offseason, he transferred to Colorado to play for head coach Deion Sanders and alongside QB Shedeur Sanders. Sheppard wins with route tempo/pacing, body control, and quickness. Bringing his versatile abilities to Colorado’s offense can elevate his level of production in his final season
Sheppard is a good route-runner who quickly drives out of his breaks. He is a leverage winner at the line of scrimmage with foot quickness and subtle movements to maneuver around the defensive back. Sheppard quickly works past his defender to stack them and track the football in flight. He uses sudden, sharp jab steps to push the defender off their spot. His releases are effective at winning quickly and getting into his route with urgency. He creates good space and separation at the top of his routes. There is a clear path to be a constant chain mover
When facing zone coverage, Sheppard thrives in the short-to-intermediate areas of the defense. He has an answer for these concepts, from finding soft spots within the coverage to working behind spot droppers. Sheppard is a collision player who plays well through contact at the catch point and after the catch. He is a dynamic leaper with the body control to elevate and make acrobatic catches on contested throws and back-shoulder fades.
Sheppard lacks the vertical explosiveness needed to blow past DBs at the line of scrimmage. If his releases aren’t successful, he can struggle to threaten the defense vertically and isn’t expected to win many footraces down the field. Sheppard has functional strength but if DBs are physical in the contact window, they can restrict his progress and momentum to enter his route-altering the timing between him and the quarterback. He has the footwork but lacks the hand usage to counter DB punches. Sheppard struggled with drops in 2023 (nine). This season, he must be more reliable before entering the 2025 NFL Draft.
Overall, Sheppard is a talented and savvy wide receiver who projects as a WR3 with potential WR2 upside. He will improve an NFL offense’s red zone efficiency with his contested catch ability.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Adequate Starter
Written By: Damian Parson
Exposures: Florida (2023), Missouri (2023), Wake Forest (2023), Tennessee (2023)
