Ja'quan Sheppard

UPDATES

Week 5: The corner allowed three catches for 37 yards as undefeated Maryland crushed visiting Indiana, 44-14. Sheppard was targeted five times, allowing a long of 18 yards. He was also in on two tackles, though he did miss a tackle. — JH

Week 4: Sheppard had by far his biggest workload (59 snaps) of 2023 in Maryland's impressive 31-9 road win at Michigan State. In coverage, the corner was targeted five times and allowed three catches for 27 yards, and was called for a penalty. Sheppard was in on four tackles. — JH

Week 3: Sheppard played 31 total plays nine against the run and 22 in coverage. Sheppard had one tackle and one missed tackle. He was also targeted two times and only gave up one pass for 16 yards. —JH

Week 2: Sheppard played 26 total plays 15 against the run and 11 in coverage. Sheppard one defensive stop. He was also targeted three times and allowed one pass for 48 yards and was beaten for a touchdown. —JH

Week 1: Sheppard played 30 total plays 11 against the run and 19 in coverage. Sheppard had two tackles and two defensive stops. He was also targeted five times and gave up one pass completion for five yards. — JH

Week 0: DNP

HISTORY — from college profile

2023: Transferred from Cincinnati to Maryland...Has one year of eligibility remaining.

—At Cincinnati—

2022: First Team All-AAC ... Has totaled 64 tackles (43 solo), 10 pass breakups, 5.5 tackles for loss and one sack over four year Cincinnati career ... Led Cincinnati with 10 pass breakups in 2022, to go with 50 total tackles (33 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss and one sack in 12 games ... Had at least one pass breakup in seven of 12 games this season ... Has played in 37 games over Cincinnati career, helping lead Bearcats to 2020 & 2021 AAC Championships, and a College Football Playoff berth in 2021 ... Played alongside top-10 pick Sauce Gardner for first three years of career ... Played both wide receiver and defensive back at Zephyrhills HS.

2021: Appeared in nine games on special teams and as a backup defensive back, totaling three tackles...Two stops came against UCF...Saw action against Houston in the AAC Championship Game and versus Alabama in the College Football Playoff Semifinals at the 86th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

2020: Special teamer and defensive backreserve played in eight games during the AAC title run...Tallied five tackles, including a TFL on the campaign...Rung up four stops and a TFL in the opener against Austin Peay, his best game of the season.

2019: Played in nine games, mostly as a special teams ace…Ranked among UC’s top special teams defenders with six stops on kickoff coverage…Had two tackles in his UC debut at Marshall … also tied that career mark with two tackles at Houston.

High school: Attended Zephyrhills High in Zephyrhills, FL ... No prep school statistics available.

PERSONAL

Prepped for coach Nick Carroll at Zephyrhills HS outside of Tampa...Bulldogs finished the season 11-1 and made a trip to the Class 5A region semifinal...Three-star prospect had 30 receptions for 404 yards and six TDs as a senior...Played in the Pasco County Football All-Star Game in December 2018...Named as one of the Top-30 players in Tampa prior to the 2018 season by TampaBay.com...Recorded 27 tackles, nine passes defended and four interceptions on the other side of the ball...As a junior, totaled 35 receptions for 797 yards and 13 TDs...Hauled in a 66-yard TD pass in the final minute of a playoff win over River Ridge.