UT helps sway Sheppard for now

The linebacker from Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Ga., visited Tennessee last Saturday during a seven-on-seven passing camp. Sheppard found comfort in the surroundings.

"I liked it a lot down there," the 6-foot-2, 215-pounder said. "They showed me the utmost respect and I felt like I was at home. That means a lot and will be one of the deciding factors."

Sheppard once considered Georgia his favorite team. But Sheppard’s feelings changed after visiting Tennessee.

"The way Tennessee did it doesn’t even compare to the way Georgia does things," Sheppard said. "I don’t really like Georgia anymore. Georgia, they just treat you like another person. At Tennessee, they treat you like you’re a part of the group."

Sheppard is being recruited by UT running backs coach Trooper Taylor. Sheppard said he related well to Taylor during the weekend.

"(Taylor) ate lunch with me," Sheppard said. "I already felt like I was on the team."

Sheppard also took notice of Tennessee’s facilities.

"Their facilities were really top notch," Sheppard said. "There’s really no comparison right now because Tennessee just has tremendous facilities down there with the indoor facility. That’s just amazing."

Sheppard said he joked around about committing during the visit but did not seriously consider it.

"I haven’t been to all the other schools that have offered me," Sheppard said. "I think I am going to go ahead and make my decision at the end of the summer after I take all my trips."

Sheppard said he has received 13 scholarship offers. UT, LSU, Georgia, Nebraska, Louisville and Maryland are some of the notables. Sheppard said he is also interested in Auburn and Florida but is waiting on offers from both schools.

Sheppard was accompanied to Knoxville by two Stephenson teammates: linebacker Perry Riley and defensive end Jermaine Cunningham. Sheppard said Tennessee made a big impression on his teammates.

"I don’t know if I can speak for them, but I probably could," Sheppard said. "I think Tennessee’s on top as of right now for both of them."

A fourth teammate, Marcus Ball, missed the Knoxville trip in order to take a college entrance exam. But Sheppard made sure to share all the details with his teammate.

"I told him about the indoor facility and that the coaching staff was talking about him," Sheppard said. "He’s definitely looking at them."

Sheppard said he would like to attend the same college as the other three but that it will not be a key factor in his decision.

Sheppard called the Vols the team to beat heading into his summer visits. Sheppard said his family will be there to help him choose his next home.

"They tell me to keep it open and do what’s best for me, not for anybody else," Sheppard. "They tell me to choose the school I like."