Draft:Ja'Quan Sheppard


Ja'Quan Sheppard
No. 46 – Las Vegas Raiders
Position:Defensive back
Personal information
Born: (2000-04-02) April 2, 2000 (age 24)[1]
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:202 lb (92 kg)
Career information
High school:Zephyrhills (Zephyrhills, Florida)
College:Cincinnati (2019–2022)
Maryland (2023)
Undrafted:2024
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Player stats at PFR

Ja'Quan Sheppard (born April 2, 2000)[1] is an American football defensive back for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Maryland and Cincinnati.

Early life and high school

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Sheppard grew up in Zephyrhills, Florida and attended Zephyrhills High School. In his high school career, Sheppard completed 66 total tackles (42 solo and 24 assisted), 1.5 tackles per game and 1.0 tackles for loss. Sheppard would also complete six interceptions for eight yard, averaging 1.3 interceptions per game, 21 pass breakups and a fumble recovery for one yard, while playing in a total of 44 games.[2] He was a three-star rated recruit and committed to play college football at the University of Cincinnati over offers from Kentucky, Marshall, UMass, NC State, Samford, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Temple, Tennessee State, Toledo, Troy, Tulane, USF, Western Kentucky and Western Michigan.[3]

College career

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Cincinnati

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During Sheppard's true freshman season in 2019, he played in nine games while mostly being on special teams. He finished the season with six total tackles (four solo and two assisted).[4] During the 2020 season, he played in eight games as a special teamer and defensive back reserve. He finished the season with five total tackles (four solo and one assisted) and one tackle for loss for one yard.[5] During the 2021 season, he appeared in nine games while on special teams and as a backup defensive back. He finished the season with three total tackles (two solo and one assisted).[6] During the 2022 season, he played in 12 games, finishing the season with 50 total tackles (33 solo and 17 assisted), 4.5 tackles for loss for 16 yards, one sack for 13 yards and 10 pass breakups.[7]

On December 5, 2022, he announced that he would enter the transfer portal.[8]

Maryland

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On December 11, 2022, Sheppard announced that he would transfer to Maryland.[9]

During the 2023 season, he played in and started all 13 games, finishing the season with 31 total tackles (28 solo and three assisted), three tackles for loss for 14 yards, one sack for seven yards and eight pass breakups.[10]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 1+35 in
(1.87 m)
199 lb
(90 kg)
30+78 in
(0.78 m)
9+14 in
(0.23 m)
4.67 s 1.57 s 2.70 s 4.40 s 33 in
(0.84 m)
10 ft 0 in
(3.05 m)
All values from Pro Day[11][12]

After not being selected in the 2024 NFL draft, Sheppard signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2024.[13][14]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Ja'Quan Sheppard". ourlads.com. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  2. ^ "Jaquan Sheppard's High School Football Stats". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  3. ^ "Ja'Quan Sheppard, Zephyrhills, Wide Receiver". 247Spors.com. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  4. ^ "Ja'Quan Sheppard 2019 Gamelog". Sports Reference. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  5. ^ "Ja'Quan Sheppard 2020 Gamelog". Sports Reference. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  6. ^ "Ja'Quan Sheppard 2021 Gamelog". Sports Reference. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  7. ^ "Ja'Quan Sheppard 2022 Gamelog". Sports Reference. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  8. ^ Smith, J.T. (December 5, 2022). "Bearcats CB Ja'Quan Sheppard enters transfer portal". The Front Office News. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  9. ^ "Cincinnati transfer Ja'Quan Sheppard commits to Maryland". On3.com. December 11, 2022. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  10. ^ "Ja'Quan Sheppard 2023 Gamelog". Sports Reference. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  11. ^ "Ja'Quan Sheppard Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  12. ^ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Ja'Quan Sheppard College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  13. ^ "Raiders announce undrafted free agents". Raiders.com. April 27, 2024.
  14. ^ Williamson, Bill (8 April 2024). "Raiders draft 2024: Is Ja'Quan Sheppard a fit?". Silver And Black Pride. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
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