Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles' rookie JaCorey Shepherd motivated to dispel slow cornerback label

Published May. 21, 2015 1:27 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

When an 199-pound draft prospect runs a 4.65 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, some teams are quick to dismiss him as a legitimate NFL prospect. When that player also plays the cornerback position, a 40 time like that could result in him going undrafted. When the Eagles selected Kansas cornerback JaCorey Shepherd in the sixth round of the 2015 NFL Draft, they proved to be less concerned with the speed he showed in shorts, and more concerned with the speed he put on game tape.

Shepherd claims that he was nursing a hamstring injury at the time he ran his 40-yard dash. He is confident that regardless of his time, he will prove to be plenty fast for the NFL level.

"To be labeled as maybe a slower corner, I know that's not me," Shepherd said to Matt Lombardo of True Jersey. "Especially if you watch tape. Playing in the Big 12 Conference, there weren't too many times I got a deep ball completed against me. So that definitely does motivate me going forward to show that isn't the type of player I am. Or that 4.6 is not who I am."

Shepherd falling into the sixth round may prove to not only be a good thing for the Eagles, but also for him as an individual. It is every player's dream to stick around in the NFL, but sometimes it helps to have a little extra push.

"I definitely am using the round I got picked in as motivation," Shepherd said during the Eagles' rookie minicamp earlier this month at the Novacare Complex. "But, as I've said from the beginning, that never mattered to me. I just wanted the opportunity."

Shepherd displayed excellent ball skills at Kansas after converting from a wide receiver. He ended his 26-game career at Kansas with five interceptions and 37 pass breakups. According to Pro Football Focus, Shepherd’s 38.6 percent catch rate allowed last season was the lowest in the entire FBS and his 53.0 quarterback rating against was also in the top 10 at his position.

The Eagles added several players to their secondary this offseason, and Shepherd won't be handed a starting role at the beginning of OTAs. That's the way he likes it, anyway.

"I know going into this competition and I'm a guy who likes challenges," Sheperd said. "I don't like when it's easy. I've never had anything handed to me. Going into a situation where I have competition here as well, I think it actually benefits me. It will bring out the best of me. I know how to handle competition."

Shepherd's ball skills and straight-line speed limitations make him an excellent fit in the slot as the nickel cornerback. That position is currently occupied by standout slot cornerback Brandon Boykin. Shepherd can learn a lot from shadowing Boykin. Shepherd's biggest impact could come on special teams during his rookie season.

(h/t True Jersey)

Photo Credit: John Rieger/USA TODAY Sports

share

Get more from Philadelphia Eagles Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Philadelphia Eagles

National Football League