Maryland football starts its season in 34 days. Until then, we're profiling every player on the roster in our Profiles in Terpage series.
Brett Shepherd, linebacker
Height: 6’4
Weight: 215 pounds
Year: Freshman
High school: Collins Hill (Ga.)
Jersey number: 53
How Shepherd got to College Park
Shepherd was a late entrant to Maryland’s 2016 signing class. He committed on Feb. 1, just hours after DJ Durkin offered him a scholarship. He held offers from Iowa, Mississippi State, Missouri and North Carolina, but he opted to become the only Georgian member of Maryland’s 2016 class. (There are two, so far, in 2017’s.)
The 247Sports Composite pegs Shepherd as a three-star recruit, the No. 67 outside linebacker in the country in his class. He lists a 4.65-second 40-yard dash time.
High school highlights
2016 prospectus
Georgia high school football is really good, and it stands to reason Shepherd is used to competing against a higher baseline of opposing talent than most players. At 6’4, he’s got nice height, and depending on how his frame fills out leading up to and during the season, it’s not inconceivable he could play as a true freshman.
But don’t bank on that. The safest bet is to expect a redshirt, especially with Maryland likely to play a lot of two-linebacker nickel that limits opportunities at Shepherd’s position. (He’s probably a weak-side linebacker, not a "MIKE" who plays in the middle of the field.) But, as ever, it’s early.
What a dream season would look like
Shepherd is so impressive that he takes over as Maryland’s starting WILL linebacker and plays alongside Jermaine Carter Jr. all season.
Next in the series ...
... is a defensive lineman who got meaningful playing time last year and should again.
Standings
Reborn479-12
PeachesTerp-9
Testudbro-5
apgibson24-5
Scaletta-4
jayman88-4
TerpDonkey-4
MurderlandBoy-3
ImFromMarylandAndNobodyCanBeatMe-3
jgoldy17-3
terpcommenter-2
amaymon27-2
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ezra2141-1
Mr. Papageorgeo-1
Carolina-1
PMatt-1
EricPat-1
Cyfi98-1
terps150-1