Will Sheppard

Last updated

Will Sheppard
No. 82 – Green Bay Packers
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (2002-02-11) February 11, 2002 (age 23)
Ruston, Louisiana, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:196 lb (89 kg)
Career information
High school: Mandeville
(Mandeville, Louisiana)
College: Vanderbilt (2020–2023)
Colorado (2024)
NFL draft: 2025: undrafted
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Practice squad
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference

William Miles Sheppard (born February 11, 2002) [1] is an American professional football wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Vanderbilt Commodores and Colorado Buffaloes.

Contents

Early life

Sheppard was born in Ruston, Louisiana, and attended Mandeville High School. In Sheppard's high school career, he hauled in 126 receptions for 2,252 yards, and 33 touchdowns. [2] Sheppard committed to play college football at Vanderbilt. [3]

College career

Vanderbilt

In Sheppard's first season in 2020, he caught two passes for 30 yards. [4] In week 5 of the 2021 season, he racked up eight receptions for 119 yards and two touchdowns in a 30–28 win over UConn. [5] Sheppard took a step up in the 2021 season, finishing the year with 43 receptions for 577 yards and four touchdowns. [4] In week 3 of the 2022 season, he tallied ten receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Northern Illinois. [6] Sheppard finished his breakout 2022 season with 60 receptions for 776 yards and nine touchdowns, earning second-team all-SEC honors. [7]

Ahead of the 2023 season, Sheppard was named preseason second-team all-SEC and a member of the Fred Biletnikoff Award watchlist. [8] [9] In the season opener, he hauled in six passes for 68 yards and two touchdowns in a 35–28 win over Hawaii. [10] On December 3, 2023, Sheppard announced that he would be entering the transfer portal. [11]

Colorado

On December 14, 2023, Sheppard announced that he would be transferring to Colorado. [12]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 2+34 in
(1.90 m)
203 lb
(92 kg)
32 in
(0.81 m)
10 in
(0.25 m)
4.59 s1.58 s2.64 s4.31 s40.5 in
(1.03 m)
10 ft 6 in
(3.20 m)
All values from Pro Day [13]

After going unselected in the 2025 NFL draft, Shepperd was originally set to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent. However, his contract offer was rescinded following a failed physical on May 9, 2025. [14] Shepard would later participate as a rookie tryout in the Denver Broncos minicamp, but was not signed.

Green Bay Packers

On July 21, 2025, Sheppard signed with the Green Bay Packers. [15] He was released on August 26 as part of final roster cuts and signed to the practice squad the next day. [16] [17]

References

  1. Amico, Anthony. "2025 NFL Draft Prospect Database | Establish The Run" . Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  2. "Will Sheppard". Vanderbilt University Athletics. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  3. Pervel, Mike. "Mandeville trio, including Will Sheppard, signs to play college football". NOLA.com. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Will Sheppard College Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  5. Tallbot, Bowman. "From sidelines to stardom: the tremendous rise of Will Sheppard". The Vanderbilt Hustler. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  6. McCarthy, Jack. "Freshman QB Swann leads Vanderbilt past Northern Illinois". AP News. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  7. "Vanderbilt football: Will Sheppard stats a key to success in 2023". The Tennessean. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  8. "2023 Preseason Coaches All-SEC Football Team announced". Southeastern Conference. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  9. Glennon, John. "Vanderbilt WR Will Sheppard earning national attention". Nashville Post. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  10. "Swann throws for 3 TDs as Vanderbilt holds off Hawaii 35-28 in opener". CBS Sports. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  11. Mago, Anish (December 3, 2023). "BREAKING: Vanderbilt wide receiver Will Sheppard enters transfer portal". The Vanderbilt Hustler. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  12. Gerson, Aria (December 14, 2023). "Vanderbilt football's Will Sheppard transferring to Colorado". The Tennessean . Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  13. "Will Sheppard RAS". RAS.Football. Retrieved July 25, 2025.
  14. Carlough, Jack. "Will Sheppard No Longer With Tampa Bay Buccaneers After Failed NFL Physical". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  15. "Packers announce roster moves". packers.com. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  16. "Packers announce roster moves Aug. 26, 2025". packers.com. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
  17. "Packers sign 13 players to practice squad". packers.com. Retrieved August 27, 2025.