RECRUITING: Russell The “Shepherd”

| | | |

LSU’s top recruit Russell Shepard doing more than just racking up big numbers on the field

by Daniel Mingea III
Tiger Rag Recruiting Analyst

Fame can be a funny thing at times. It can either be a negative or a positive depending on the user. Fame has the ability to unlock many doors that are usually not open to the public. Some players get the fame and lock the door behind them leaving the less fortunate short of the taking. But then there are players such as Russell Shepard who hold the door open for anyone to enter.

Shepard is arguably the most visible high school athlete in the country, but he refuses to let the big lights and glamor alter who he is. Being that Shepard is a standout student-athlete, he was asked to join the Teen Board (ages 11-18) for the Oliver Foundation. It is a (Houston-based) non-profit organization not set up for its glamor, but instead to educate families on health and wellness in an effort to prevent childhood obesity.

Shepard could have easily declined the bid. He could have said he was was busy with school, football, recruiting interviews, ESPN, and his preparation for LSU. That would have been the easy route, but instead Shepard decided to jump right in and learn as much as he could about kids dealing with obesity in America.

Oliver Foundation Teen Board Members
Front L-R: Maggie Wurzer, President; Erica Carey, Treasurer; Katherine Freedman, Events Coordinator; Theresa Sturdivant, Historian; Makenzie Kink, Vice President Back L-R: Daniel Thompson, Anthony Nguyen, Denzil Bell, Edward Baker, Russell Shepard, Parker Kink, President Emeritus.

“I’ve been involved with the Oliver Foundation for about four years now,” Shepard stated. “It is set up with a board that is run by two doctors (the Woehler’s). One is retired and one is still in practice. It is an organization that is run outside of school, but they select an athlete that is successful both in the classroom and on the field to join the committee and I was the athlete they selected. There are also other members from other organizations on the committee including some boy scouts or kids who were viewed as leaders in their schools and communities.

“At first I didn’t know too much about it, but I decided to give it a shot,” Shepard added. “I knew Houston was known for being the ‘fattest city in America’ so it kind of sparked some interest in me. I think like 40% of today’s youth in America are overweight and are on pace for obesity.”

Between the classroom and the football field Shepard meets regularly with his committee and travels throughout the Houston area educating children and parents on the dangers of the disease.

“Some of the board members travel around the country, but I mostly go around the southeast Houston area,” Shepard explained. “I meet with the board about once a month and we travel to different places talking to families.

“Usually we have fun packets for kids to look at and we give them fun, healthy tips about the foods they should be eating,” Shepard continued. “But when we talk to the parents it is usually more serious. We explain to them the dangers involved with childhood obesity and we break down some foods they should look for when they are grocery shopping and we provide them with some diets they should have their kids follow.”

Although Shepard will be leaving the Houston area for Baton Rouge in January, he claims he will continue to be a part of the Oliver Foundation in some form or another.

“Once I leave for LSU I will not be involved with the committee or the groups as much, but I’m definitely going to be involved whenever I come back,” Shepard concluded. “Hopefully when I get to LSU I can get some of the guys over there involved with the program and that way we can spread some knowledge on the issue of childhood obesity. So even though I’m not going to be involved with it as much as I was before, I guess you could say I’m taking it on the road with me.”

Note: To learn more about the battle against childhood obesity, visit www.oliverfoundation.org