RECRUITING: Shepard Still Hopeful

LSU’s star-studded commitment not bothered by Florida loss; sheds light on other Tiger targets

by Daniel Mingea III
Tiger Rag Recruiting Analyst

Read Mingea’s Recruiting Blog at NOLA.com

LSU suffered a scare on Saturday night as they fell to the Florida Gators 51-21.

Not only was it a threat concerning a national title run, but it was also a threat directed towards the Tigers’ chances of landing the nation’s top recruiting class.

One LSU commit for 2009 was paying close attention to the game in Gainesville as well as its possible post-game outbreak regarding the recruiting campaign. That recruit was none other than Rival.com’s 5-star athlete Russell Shepard (6-2, 185, 4.4).

“I wasn’t too surprised,” Shepard stated about the outcome of LSU’s last game. “I knew going into the game we were going to see one of two types of Florida. It was either going to be the Florida that played against Ole Miss or the Florida team that beat LSU.

“(Tim) Tebow and (Percy) Harvin had so much speed,” Shepard added. “Then LSU had a young team playing in that game and that’s something I think people do not realize. The offensive line is young, the quarterbacks are young, the running backs are juniors, and most of the defense is young. With that said I am very impressed with how the team has done so far this season.”

Shepard expressed how excited he is to have the opportunity to come in and join a Tigers team that has not yet reached its potential. The Cypress Ridge High School product believes he might be able to come in next year and give the young Tigers team the boost it appears to be lacking.

“After watching that game I can’t wait to come in and help the team out,” Shepard stated. “I think there are a lot of things I can come in and do with my athletic ability. I think I could come in and maybe do a little option or something to change things up a little on offense.

“Don’t get me wrong, I think Hatch, Lee, and Scott are all amazing players, but I think I could be that extra element the team needs by bringing in more speed. Scott and Williams are fast, but if the team could add another guy with speed in that backfield then I think it would be the first time ever an LSU team would have three people with that kind of speed lined up in the backfield at the same time.”

The gunslinger admitted to speaking with the LSU coaching staff after each game and claimed they have discussed his role on the team.

“I’ve done talked to the coaches about it,” Shepard said. “They said they could see me doing this and doing that. I’m a realistic person and I know some of that is just recruiting talk, but I really believe I could do a lot of things to help the team win.

“I’m a team player,” Shepard added. “I’m all about the team. I’d even move to the slot if the coaches wanted me to and that would add another element to the game. Or even if they wanted me to sit out the first year, I’d be happy. I’d just work my butt off during that time.”

Before playing time becomes an issue for Shepard, he hopes LSU will have sealed the number one recruiting class in the country. Even after LSU’s disappointing loss, it appears reaching that goal may have become a little easier with the firing of Clemson’s Head Coach Tommy Bowden.

“I think it (the firing) helps out a lot,” Shepard explained. “Personally, I think Craig (Loston) was looking for a way out the entire time because he de-committed the morning coach Bowden was fired. I think coach Bowden being fired made it an easy way out for Craig.

“However, I think the loss to Florida brought us (LSU) a couple of notches down with Debose, Bostic, and Armstrong, but the firing brought us a couple of notches up with Craig. So in the end it will probably even out.”

Being that Shepard is so confident Loston will commit to LSU, when should LSU fans expect an announcement?

“I think Craig is just focused on football right now and his season,” Shepard replied. “I think he is going to wait and chill before he makes his decision. I think he just wants to play football right now. I think we’ll hear something around mid-November or December.”

Loston is not the only one who is focused on his season. Shepard has a huge game against Cypress Falls this Thursday night. The game will be televised on ESPN2 at 6:00p.m. (CST.).

“We have a big game coming up on Thursday,” Shepard admitted. “Cypress Falls is a very good team. They have a good quarterback (Kolby Gray). Last season he threw for over 3,000 yards with like 30-something touchdowns. He can run it, throw it, and do it all.

“Last season I put up close to 600 yards on them,” Shepard continued. “I had like 460 yards rushing. That was last season though. This year I think I’ve been throwing the ball a little better. I already have 850 yards passing this season. I didn’t reach the 800 yard mark last season until the playoffs. So I think this game will either be a battle between the quarterbacks or it will be a defensive struggle.”

Note: Shepard informed TigerRag.com he will not be in attendance for LSU’s games against Georgia or Alabama. His team has a game on the day of the Georgia game and he has a family obligation to attend on the day of the Alabama game. He said he’ll try to attend the Ole Miss game.