Russell Shepard, Looking at a Final Five 

Senior quarterback Russell Shepard from Cypress Ridge High School in Houston, TX is rated in the Top 10 players nationally and is now down to five different top notch national powerhouses for his college selection. Did he name a favorite? One of his visits was exceptionally well received by the young signal caller.

By Steve Patterson

Big Play Ability

Russell Shepard is a dual threat quarterback that has already put up big numbers in only two games as a senior. He feels is ability to make the big plays is what sets him apart. “I feel like one of my best attribute is my ability to make plays with both my legs and arms, as well as my knowledge of the game, but most importantly my leadership skills.”

Starting early in high school has allowed Shepard to gain valuable experience that some nationally recruited quarterbacks do not have. He told us about starting at an early age. “As of right now the highlight of my career is actually establishing myself as a starting quarterback at the age of 15 and as a result I gained the respect of my fellow peers and older teammates.”

Two games down and he has already put up 750 all purpose yards from the quarterback position. “For the 2 games I have played I have thrown for 450 yards and completed 25 of 45 passes, ran for 300 yards off of 30 carries with 8 total touchdowns: 4 throwing 4 rushing.”

Colleges in Pursuit

Shepard is active in his recruitment, has a good ideal of what he wants in a college, and has made a number of visits already. “I have visited Texas A&M, University of Texas, and LSU. I really enjoyed all the Universities, they each had a lot to offer but LSU really caught my eye.” He told us.

“When looking for the best college for me most importantly I was looking for a school that would give me a chance to play quarterback. My major, Marketing Communications, is a big factor also. I want to make sure I am going to a school that can provide me with the best education as well. I’m also a very family orientated guy so a schools close to home where really high on my list. As far as football programs go, I just really search for a program that I could best fit into and get a chance to play early.” He said about what a college program needs to have for him to be comfortable.

Top 5

His Top 5 is set and his favorite is already known according to the start prospect. “My Top 5 is USC, Texas, Florida, Michigan, and LSU” he said and added that LSU is a place that he was very impressed with. “What I like about LSU is the opportunity that I have at LSU to maximize my skills, the football tradition, and especially how Baton Rouge really stands behind their football team.”