Link:
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/...rling-shepard-outshines-baylors-corey-coleman
Oklahoma's Sterling Shepard outshines Baylor's Corey Coleman
By Rob Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com
November 15, 2015 12:29 am ET
In one of the more physical and contentious games of the season, it was the smallest player on the field who shined brightest as Oklahoma outlasted Baylor 44-34.
Gutty performances were turned in on both sides but perhaps the most inspirational effort - and impactful in terms of NFL stock - was put forth by the Sooners' diminutive senior wideout Sterling Shepard, who caught 14 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns.
The 5-foot-10, 193 pound Shepard entered the game ranked 14th on NFLDraftScout.com's wide receiver board but the slippery pass-catcher could see a boost after showing up Baylor's Heisman Trophy candidate Corey Coleman, who checks in at No. 3 among receivers potentially available in the 2016 NFL draft.
Shepard and Coleman, alike, are both shorter and slighter than scouts would prefer, which is one of the reasons why Mississippi's Laquon Treadwell (6-foot-2, 210 pounds) and Ohio State's Michael Thomas (6-foot-3, 210) rank ahead of them. Given the quick-passing attacks so popular in today's NFL, however, every team in the league is looking for speedy playmakers with the toughness to handle slot duties.
Shepard is a nightmare to cover because he possesses the straight-line speed to beat defenders over the top, as well as the quickness and balance to change directions in a flash. He shows soft, reliable hands to pluck the ball outside of his frame, as well as the awareness and toughness to "body catch" when necessary to protect the ball.
This had been an area in which Coleman, too, had starred this season. He entered the game with an NCAA-leading 20 touchdown catches on the year but was largely held in check by an aggressive Oklahoma defense, finishing the night with just three grabs for 51 yards - 37 on which came on one reception.
Shepard, on the other hand, was a constant pest for the Bears, making his presence known throughout the game on a variety of routes. His first touchdown came midway through the second quarter on a deep ball down the right sideline to extend Oklahoma's lead to 13-7. His second score came midway through the third quarter when he showed terrific concentration on a tightly contested post route to pull in a dart from Baker Mayfield, breaking a 20-20 tie.
Shepard's standout performance was all the more impressive considering that much of the game was played in a driving rain. Rather than extinguish the emotion of the rivalry, the precipitation only seemed to make the players that much chippier. There were multiple personal fouls called, several near skirmishes and one Sooner - defensive tackle Matt Dimon - was tossed from the game after kicking a Baylor player.
While scouts never want to see players' emotions get the better of them, by channeling his competitiveness, Shepard probably helped his stock. Shepard has shown toughness throughout his career and frankly, he'll need to continue to play with this chip on his shoulder to enjoy similar success at the next level.
Including Saturday night's effort, Shepard now has 61 catches for 1,003 yards and nine touchdowns on the season, each of which are career-highs.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/...rling-shepard-outshines-baylors-corey-coleman
Oklahoma's Sterling Shepard outshines Baylor's Corey Coleman
By Rob Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com
November 15, 2015 12:29 am ET
In one of the more physical and contentious games of the season, it was the smallest player on the field who shined brightest as Oklahoma outlasted Baylor 44-34.
Gutty performances were turned in on both sides but perhaps the most inspirational effort - and impactful in terms of NFL stock - was put forth by the Sooners' diminutive senior wideout Sterling Shepard, who caught 14 passes for 177 yards and two touchdowns.
The 5-foot-10, 193 pound Shepard entered the game ranked 14th on NFLDraftScout.com's wide receiver board but the slippery pass-catcher could see a boost after showing up Baylor's Heisman Trophy candidate Corey Coleman, who checks in at No. 3 among receivers potentially available in the 2016 NFL draft.
Shepard and Coleman, alike, are both shorter and slighter than scouts would prefer, which is one of the reasons why Mississippi's Laquon Treadwell (6-foot-2, 210 pounds) and Ohio State's Michael Thomas (6-foot-3, 210) rank ahead of them. Given the quick-passing attacks so popular in today's NFL, however, every team in the league is looking for speedy playmakers with the toughness to handle slot duties.
Shepard is a nightmare to cover because he possesses the straight-line speed to beat defenders over the top, as well as the quickness and balance to change directions in a flash. He shows soft, reliable hands to pluck the ball outside of his frame, as well as the awareness and toughness to "body catch" when necessary to protect the ball.
This had been an area in which Coleman, too, had starred this season. He entered the game with an NCAA-leading 20 touchdown catches on the year but was largely held in check by an aggressive Oklahoma defense, finishing the night with just three grabs for 51 yards - 37 on which came on one reception.
Shepard, on the other hand, was a constant pest for the Bears, making his presence known throughout the game on a variety of routes. His first touchdown came midway through the second quarter on a deep ball down the right sideline to extend Oklahoma's lead to 13-7. His second score came midway through the third quarter when he showed terrific concentration on a tightly contested post route to pull in a dart from Baker Mayfield, breaking a 20-20 tie.
Shepard's standout performance was all the more impressive considering that much of the game was played in a driving rain. Rather than extinguish the emotion of the rivalry, the precipitation only seemed to make the players that much chippier. There were multiple personal fouls called, several near skirmishes and one Sooner - defensive tackle Matt Dimon - was tossed from the game after kicking a Baylor player.
While scouts never want to see players' emotions get the better of them, by channeling his competitiveness, Shepard probably helped his stock. Shepard has shown toughness throughout his career and frankly, he'll need to continue to play with this chip on his shoulder to enjoy similar success at the next level.
Including Saturday night's effort, Shepard now has 61 catches for 1,003 yards and nine touchdowns on the season, each of which are career-highs.
