Latest news with #SterlingShepard
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Buccaneers' Overlooked Veteran Given Props By First Rounder
Buccaneers' Overlooked Veteran Given Props By First Rounder originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Former Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka is walking into as perfect a situation with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as any rookie receiver in history. Advertisement The 19th overall pick in the 2025 draft has aging veterans playing in front of him that include a Hall-of-Famer in Mike Evans, and a Pro Bowl talent in Chris Godwin. Together, the Godwin-Evans duo has consistently been one of the better receiving pairs in the league over the last decade. There's another veteran on the team that has helped Egbuka in his transition to the NFL, though. And this one is overlooked on Tampa Bay's loaded roster. Former New York Giant Sterling Shepherd. Egbuka spoke with NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and Sam Wyche after OTAs this week and name-dropped Shepherd as a key person in his development. Advertisement "I think every time I come back from running a route, if I a ran a good route or I didn't run a so-good route, Sterling [Shepard] is one of the first ones to be able to tell me and we'll watch it together on film post practice — we're always studying the game," Egbuka said. Shepherd was once a second round pick by New York in 2016 and quickly became a dependable player in their offense. He had over 500 yards receiving in each of his first five seasons with the team. Injuries forced the veteran out of New York, though, and into the Buccaneers locker room. He recorded 32 catches for over 330 yards, and a single touchdown last season for the Buccaneers in 2024. This season, Shepherd is fighting for a roster spot once again. The fact that he continues to be a leader for someone like Egbuka shows just how special a person he is. Advertisement And how important he could be for Tampa in 2025. Related: Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield Has Glowing Scouting Report On Emeka Egbuka Related: Buccaneers Boast Crowded Wideout Room Ahead of Training Camp This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
21-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Sterling Shepard on Baker Mayfield: 'I wouldn't play for anyone else'
Sterling Shepard on Baker Mayfield: 'I wouldn't play for anyone else' Baker Mayfield and Sterling Shepard had a special connection during their days at Oklahoma. Shepard emerged as a reliable wide receiver prospect and Mayfield won a Heisman Trophy and was the top pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. That connection took some years off but it was renewed in 2024 when Shepard signed with the Bucs. That connection proved fruitful in critical moments during the year. With Shepard being a free agent, some folks had wondered if we had seen the end of the former Oklahoma Sooners playing together. Shepard, though, had other thoughts and returned to the team this offseason. Shepard could not have been more clear in his reasoning for returning to Tampa Bay, saying, "Baker is one of those quarterbacks that you want to give your all for and it has been that way since college. It's been that way since my senior year when I got a chance to play with him. Obviously, I was on the road to retirement last year, and he gave me that call. I wouldn't want to come back and play for anybody else. . ." Shepard may not be a big time wide receiver for the Bucs in their offense but the connection he has with Mayfield is priceless. It will pay off on critical third and fourth downs and that is where this simple deal will be worth it come the season.
USA Today
15-03-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Former Oklahoma Sooners WR returns to Buccaneers
Former Oklahoma Sooners WR returns to Buccaneers Former Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Sterling Shepard is returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After signing a one-year contract with Tampa Bay last offseason to extend his NFL career, the veteran will be lacing it up for at least one more go in 2025 with the Buccaneers. Jason Licht, the general manager of the Bucs, announced on social media that the team and Shepard had agreed to terms on a new deal. Shepard started the 2024 season on Tampa Bay's practice squad, but his role quickly expanded. He was promoted to the active roster and eventually took over as the team's primary third receiver. Shepard went on to catch 32 passes for 334 yards and one touchdown while adding 69 yards on eight carries. Shepard was a star as a four-year starter at OU from 2012 to 2015 and had his best season in his senior year, as he teamed with Baker Mayfield to help lead the Sooners to a Big 12 Championship and the College Football Playoff in 2015. Shepard was named a first-team All-American for his efforts. Mayfield, the Buccaneers' starting quarterback since 2023, was instrumental in getting Shepard on the team last offseason. Shepard previously played for the New York Giants after being a second-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Shepard's father, Derrick, played for OU from 1987 to 1991 and passed away when Sterling was six. He followed in his father's footsteps in Norman and was one of the stalwarts of the late Bob Stoops era.
