2006: Saw action in all 11 games, starting 10 contests . . . led the team with 82 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss . . . recovered two fumbles and forced one . . . had nine tackles at Georgia Tech . . . registered nine tackles and one sack against Austin Peay . . . had 13 tackles at Southeast Missouri . . . had nine tackles against Eastern Kentucky . . . had eight tackles at Tennessee State . . . recorded 11 tackles at Jacksonville State.

2005: Played in nine games, starting one ­contest . . . registered 13 tackles, including eight solo stops . . . had three tackles for a loss and one sack . . . recorded a sack in his first ­college game against Edward Waters . . . had a career-high three tackles against Murray State.

High School: Recorded 160 tackles and six sacks in 2004 . . . named All-State, Super All-Metro, All-Metro and All-Over the Mountain as a senior . . . as a junior, was named team captain and Defensive MVP . . . played on two state championship teams and one state runner-up team . . . was named among the "Best of the Rest" for The Birmingham News Super Senior Class of 2005.

Personal: Son of Rodney V. Shepherd, Sr. and Sheila Shepherd . . . majoring in fitness and health promotion.