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2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Ja’quan Sheppard, DB, Maryland

Ja’Quan Sheppard has shown versatility and plays with good awareness in Maryland’s secondary. Hula Bowl scout Brinson Bagley breaks him down as an NFL Prospect in his report.

Player Data

Name, Jersey #Ja’Quan Sheppard, #3, #5
School (Code)University of Maryland (MDUN)
Class YrrSr
Height, Weight6015/202
40 Yd Dash4.54 est.
Position/DepthOutside Corner/ FS
Honors/CaptainshipFirst Team All-AAC
Season Viewed (yr)2022/2023
Games WatchedIndiana @ Maryland 09/30/2023Virginia @ Maryland 09/15/2023Cincinnati @ Southern Methodist University 10/22/2022
Scout Name / DateBrinson Bagley, 11/07/2023

Per Year Stats (Most Recent First)

2023Solo 13, Ast.  2, PD 5
2022Solo 33, Ast.  17, PD  10, Sack 1
2021Solo  2, Ast. 1
2020Solo 4, Ast. 1
2019Solo 4, Ast. 1

Player Summary:

Ja’Quan is an outside corner who has also lined up in the slot and has rolled into safety responsibilities on occasion. He boasts a long, chiseled frame and is an excellent size for his position. He plays with a competitive streak and a won’t-back-down mentality. In tight coverage, he uses his hands and technique to disrupt routes and his quick feet to stay with the receiver. He plays with good awareness, using positional awareness and crafty UOH at the top of the route to out-maneuver the receiver when the ball is in the air. He activates a quick burst when initiating his recovery speed, allowing him to make up ground on deep routes. He has good instincts and can play with his back to the ball when needed. This carries over in zone, allowing him to make well-timed route cutoffs, deflect passes from the QB, or prevent passes in his direction, reading the QB with fluid hips, allowing him to smoothly turn and react. He is a solid and willing tackler who is fearless when contacting the ball carrier. He willingly combats blocks and contributes on special teams, starting off as an ace and becoming one of the best special teams tacklers in the AAC. He has adequate functional strength, and his tackles are disregarded by larger receivers with stiff arms. This also will lead to struggles defeating blocks in time to attack screens or in pursuit. He also struggles against route breaks when in off coverage, requiring several recovery steps to stop, then break to attack, allowing comebacks and curl route runners to catch and adjust after. He boasts 0 career interceptions to this point and needs to capitalize or create opportunities for turnovers.

Scheme Fit:

Tight Man, and cover 2 primary defenses

Power Statement:

Ja’Quan has a lot of talent and wit, his ideal frame, physical abilities, and special teams contributions, will get him on the field in his rookie stint. He can quickly become a rotational corner for a team.

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