Freshman Russell Shepard joined LSU’s football team as the No. 2-ranked quarterback in the 2009 recruiting class, according to Scout.com. Shepard is listed as a quarterback on LSU’s depth chart. But he has yet to throw a pass in the 23 times he’s gotten the ball this season. Shepard instead has shown his versatility by taking direct snaps from the wildcat formation, hand-offs from the running back position and even catching a pass from the receiver position. Shepard showed why he was a highly touted recruit Saturday when he took a handoff 69 yards for his first collegiate touchdown. “I had been struggling trying to get some touches here, so it was just an amazing feeling,” Shepard said. “[The touchdown] was a 3-read, a simple play.”Shepard finished Saturday’s game against Auburn with 71 rushing yards, which led all LSU rushers. His career-best performance against Auburn came one game after he did not see the field when LSU hosted No. 1 Florida on Oct. 10. “The hype of recruitment is all over, and I have to be able to produce,” Shepard said. “The more I produce, the more coaches put me on the field.”Shepard admitted the transition from high school to college wasn’t as easy as he expected. “It’s a long season, but it definitely has been [tough to adapt],” Shepard said. “In high school I was just a better athlete than everybody.”LSU coach Les Miles said a lot of players come into college and have to adjust to not being the only star player on the team. He said high school players have to learn the coaches need to coach everyone, not just them specifically. “What happens is you come to college, and you realize that there is a quarterback, receivers, running backs and a number of guys who get their opportunities,” Miles said. “And just to coach you would be inappropriate, but we’re going to coach the room, and that room’s responsibility is to get that information.”But Miles said with a player like Shepard who can play multiple positions, the difficulty of the transition is amplified. “We’ve asked him to do a lot of things,” Miles said. “I think we certainly multiply his issues with how much we’re trying to put on his plate.”Shepard has produced when he has come on the field. Shepard has run the ball for 177 yards, and his 7.7 yards per carry this season leads the team. He also recorded a reception for 6 yards. “Playing receiver or running back gives me an option, takes the pressure off me to be able to make a move one-on-one on the safety or linebacker — it’s helped me out a lot,” Shepard said.Shepard knows if he continues to play well, he’ll see the field more and have more opportunities to make plays. “I experienced the positives of college football [Saturday], and I just look forward to helping my team out some more later on this year,” Shepard said. Senior defensive lineman Al Woods said he was happy to see the freshman have a breakout game, and future solid performances can help the team with quality opponents left on the schedule.”It feels good. I love to see Shepard in the backfield doing something special,” Woods said. Miles said Shepard will get more opportunities, and he’ll be able to display his skills at different positions.
 
 
 
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