PRO 2025 Rookie Spotlight: Will Sheppard, WR Colorado
Rookie Spotlight: Will Sheppard, Colorado
Height: 6-2 (Shrine)
Weight: 198 (Shrine)
Hands: 9 7/8″ (Shrine)
Arm: 32 1/4″
2025 Age: 23 (2/11/02)
NFL Play-Style Comparison: Tyler Johnson, Michael Wilson
Draft Grade: 6th-7th Round
Projected 40: 4.59
Breakout Age: 19 (Sophomore)
Event: Shrine Bowl
Offensive Market Share Metrics (Final Season)
Receptions: 14%
Receiving Yards: 16%
Receiving TDs: 17%
High School: Mandeville HS (Mandeville, Louisiana)
As a high school prospect: Class of 2020; 3-star (5.5)
College Attended: Vanderbilt(4), Colorado(1)
Pros
– great overall length, but rarely utilizes it unless in red zone situations
– Solid in contested situations, knack for attacking the ball in the air (52% contested catch rate)
– Real Red-Zone threat with contested chops, his one semi-superpower
– Lumbering runner that can change tempo within a route and win downfield in college with deception
– Massive drop-rate improvement from 16% to 2% in 2024
– 120.4 passer rating when targeted (52nd out of 402 2024 FBS qualifiers)
Cons
– Miserable Yards/Route Run in 2024 (1.22); worst among all combine and All-Star Game participants
– Limited route tree, tons of curls, comebacks, and digs with occasional go routes
– Lacks intention with footwork at the top of routes
– Tends to fade away if the play is planned to go opposite side of the field or a run
– 32 of 48 receptions came behind the LOS or within 10 yards of the LOS in 2024.
– Too much standing around
Highlight/Film
Scouting Notes:
Will Sheppard’s abilities are apparent within 10 minutes of watching, a bigger-bodied contested catch threat that struggles to create real separation on most routes he runs. His route tempo reminds me at times of a Mike Evans where his switch can flip on in a blink, the problem is Sheppard’s on switch is at least a tenth of a second slower than Evans’. As a transfer wide receiver for the Colorado Buffaloes, Sheppard found himself in a rather loaded room, alongside Heisman Trophy winner and soon-to-be Top 5 pick, Travis Hunter, other 2025 draft prospects LaJohntay Wester and Jimmy Horn reeled in 111 receptions combined during the 2024 campaign as well.
Sheppard was the bigger more prototypical ‘x’ receiver for the Buffs, with the former three working across the formation on a snap-to-snap basis, Sheppard saw just 27 total snaps in the slot. Before Colorado, he spent 4 seasons in the SEC playing for Vanderbilt, where he broke out as a Sophomore with 43 receptions, 577 yards, and 4 touchdowns.
The athletic trait was in his body from the moment he was born, both his father (Willie) and mother (Rebekah Boyd) attended Louisiana Tech and played Football and Volleyball respectively. As a track athlete in high school, Sheppard leaped 6’8″ in the high jump (excellent).
The prospect of Will Sheppard lands as an ideal no. 2 opposite of a dynamic alpha like Malik Nabers. The upside exists for Sheppard to break through in a high-value red-zone role, but his overall output early in his career is limiting due to his lack of effort and abilities in the run game and limited route tree. Think Michael Wilson for a ceiling.
