Russell Shepard

[Fox1994]

What's the consensus on this guy? He's clearly a very talented athlete, but he won't be starting at quarterback until (at least, if ever) his junior year. Next year, he'll be probably playing the same tweener (QB/HB/WR) position that he did this year... Though there's been talk of him improving as a receiver.

He's versatile and multi-talented. Thoughts?

http://www.russellshephard.org/

http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=3660167

http://blog.nola.com/lsusports/2009/01/lsus_russell_shepard_entering.html

[KNUBB]

He is a receiver full time. He may get reps elsewhere but he is WR. He will never play QB. He will be a Percy Harvin kind of player

[Tengo Juego]

I've watched that entire first video, and 2 minutes and 22 seconds of the second before I saw him throw the ball. This guy is fun to watch.

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Depends what position he plays and how LSU uses him.

As a receiver, he isn't better than Randle (going to blow up this year) or Tolliver.

[NAHSTE]

Working nearly full-time at WR and that's the position he wants to play in the NFL. He will never play QB for LSU, but he may still take some direct snaps. (Assuming Gary Crowton's drawn up some more imaginative plays for him than the predictable shit of last season.)


He is getting rave reviews from everybody, and apparently dazzled as a receiver at the Manning Passing Academy. He'll be the best slot WR LSU's had since Skyler Green or Early Doucet, and if he gets enough touches, he could be a Heisman candidate in a year or so.



With Toliver and Randle out wide and Shep in the slot, LSU has a truly amazing WR corps. That's three 5-stars on the field together at once in the passing game. Factor in super-athletic TE (formerly a WR) DeAngelo Peterson, and we have quite the bevy of pass-catching talent.

It's gonna be a briiiiight, bright, briiiiight, bright sunshiny day.

LSU strength coach Tommy Moffitt says no one on LSU's team can run with Shepard. Even the very confident Patrick Peterson agrees and calls Shepard the team's most talented player.

"Russell Shepard hands down," said Peterson, who will not mind telling you that he is the best cornerback in the nation. "I mean that guy is so dynamic. Russell's just so fast and swift with the ball. I mean he knows where the end zone is, and I believe he will visit that a lot this year."

Quote:
Shepard spent last season bouncing from one position to another at practice -- quarterback, running back and receiver -- but his focus has remained mostly on receiving since the spring.
"It's made a huge difference," Shepard said.
New wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales told Shepard he shouldn't see himself as a jack-of-all-trades, but instead master one thing and be good at a few other things.
Shepard spent 90 percent of the time at receiver during Thursday's practice, but also got in the backfield and worked a little at quarterback.
Shepard said he doesn't lack confidence, but admitted he still has a lot to learn. Among them -- the finer points of route-running.
"I got him right now," said sophomore wide receiver Rueben Randle. "He's still learning. He's progressed a lot, though."
It's a long way to the top for the young receiver, but not for lack of effort.
"At the end of the day, it's about who wants it more," Shepard said. "I feel like I'm a true receiver, and I'm going to work my butt off to be the best."