Former Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Sterling Shepard has seen his name climb up consensus draft boards for several months now and a trip to Mobile to participate in the Senior Bowl served as another chance for him to impress everyone in attendance.
Shepard spoke to the media on Friday about working with an NFL coaching staff, a defensive back that impressed him, what he wanted to showcase this week, talking to Tyler Lockett and more.
Q: How are you feeling after that hit today?
A: I’m feeling alright. It wasn’t too bad, but I got hit in my sternum and took the breath from me. That goes away pretty fast.
Q: What are your thoughts on NFL coaches now that you’ve had a week with them?
A: It’s been fun. It’s been hectic at times when I first got in having to deal with all the scouts and trying to learn the playbook on top of that, but it comes pretty natural to me. Football is football and I got the plays down pretty smooth since the beginning.
Q: Is there a defensive back that has caught your attention?
A: The guy from Auburn (Jonathan Jones) is really good. He’s a smaller guy, but he definitely likes to play physical.
Q: Is there anything in particular you wanted to showcase this week?
A: I wanted to show I could get off of press coverage and play on the outside and I feel like some people think I can’t go outside in the NFL. I think I can as well as playing on the inside.
Q: What’s it like playing with guys you competed against this year?
A: It’s pretty fun actually. You get to see guys from around the country you see make big plays all the time and now you get to compete with them. You get some characters on the team and it makes it fun to hang out with those guys off the field.
Q: Has this week been what you expected it to be?
A: It’s been about what I expected it to be. I got a chance to talk to Tyler Lockett before I got here and pick his brain and find out what events we would be doing. I got a pretty good idea from him and it’s been pretty smooth since I’ve been here.
Q: Who’s the biggest character on your team?
A: The guy on my team, Eric Striker. He’s definitely the biggest character, but Reggie Ragland is pretty much the same person. He’s the Striker of Alabama and those guys are getting along.