Green Bay Packers Sign 5th-Year Senior, Colorado Buffaloes Receiver as Undrafted Free Agent 1 Sep 30, 2023; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) meets with USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) after the game at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: John Leyba-USA TODAY Sports

Green Bay Packers Sign 5th-Year Senior, Colorado Buffaloes Receiver as Undrafted Free Agent

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By John Sbisa | Last updated Jul 22, 2025 5:55 PM ET

Green Bay Packers training camp begins tomorrow, July 23, and there will be a new face on the field after their latest transactions. Alongside CFL kicker Mark McNamee, the team brought on 5th-year senior receiver Will Sheppard from the Colorado Buffaloes. Former teammate and 2025 Browns draftee Shedeur Sandeurs showed some love on social media after the Packers announced the signing.

Green Bay Packers Usher Yet Another Sanders Teammate into NFL in Will Sheppard

2024 was Sheppard’s only season at Colorado, after transferring from Vanderbilt. Part of a Buffaloes squad that went 9-3 before losing to BYU in the Alamo Bowl, Sheppard caught 48 passes for 621 yards and six touchdowns.

In his three full seasons at Vanderbilt, he compiled 150 catches for 2,037 yards and 21 TDs. The 23-year-old is listed at 6-foot-3 and 196 pounds. He will wear no. 82 as a Packer.

In response to the signing, Sanders retweeted the announcement with a fire emoji. Sanders, also 23, was indeed drafted but knows what it’s like not to hear one’s name called after falling to 144th overall after many projected him as a first rounder, if not a top 10 pick.

Sheppard had his best season in 2022, when he set career highs across the board and Associated Press writers named him second-team All-Southeastern Conference.

He drew interest post-draft from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but failed his physical, prolonging his stay on the open market. Like most undrafted free agents, he probably won’t see a bounty of real-game snaps, but he will have a chance to show what’s he worth during training camp. If there is a league where the “next man up” mentality reigns, it’s the NFL. A practice squad spot can bring unexpected opportunities.

The league has now welcomed eight members of the 2024 Colorado team. Alongside Sanders and Sheppard, Heisman-winning receiver-cornerback Travis Hunter was drafted second overall by the Jaguars.

Packers News: Bo Melton to be Like Travis Hunter in a Dual Role? 3rd-Year Wide Receiver Suggests He's Not Going to be a Full Time CB 2 Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) hits the padded wall after a sucessful reception during the second mandatory minicamp at Miller Electric Center Wednesday, June 11, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla.

Among lesser-known rookie receivers on the Packers depth chart, Sheppard joins Sam Brown (Miami), Julian Hicks (Albany), and Cornelius Johnson (Michigan), in addition to heralded draft selection Matthew Golden (Texas, 23rd) and Savion Williams (TCU, 87th).

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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