Three reasons Will Sheppard would be a perfect fit for Auburn

Originally posted on FanNation Auburn Daily
By Andrew Stefaniak | Last updated 12/10/23

Auburn is on the hunt for a transfer portal wide receiver, and one player whom the Tigers are looking at is Will Sheppard.

Sheppard played with the Vanderbilt Commodores last season, where he caught 47 passes for 684 yards and eight touchdowns.

Let's discuss three reasons Sheppard would be a perfect fit for Auburn's wide receiver position from the portal.

He's proven it in the SEC

In the last cycle, most of the receiver transfers Coach Freeze brought in from the portal were coming from smaller schools, so they haven't proven it in Power Five football. A player like Sheppard wouldn't have the growing pains of moving from a smaller conference to the SEC as he has spent his entire career in the SEC. He has proven success against the best secondaries in the conference.

He would walk into immediate playing time

When you are a player like Sheppard, you don't want to go somewhere and fight for playing time. You want your final stop in college football to be one where you walk right into a full workload of playing time. With Auburn's receiver situation, Sheppard could walk in a be the WR1 on this team the second he takes a step on campus. Playing time will be an easy sell for Coach Hugh Freeze to Sheppard.

Sheppard can mentor the freshman

Auburn has a bunch of young talented receivers coming in the 2024 class and Sheppard could be their mentor. Sheppard is a veteran SEC wide receiver whose next stop will be the NFL. For the young 2024 freshman playing their first season around a guy like Sheppard could be very beneficial for them. Auburn needs to go get this kid because he is a great wide receiver that would make Auburn a lot better.