SCOOP HD: Shepard Talks AA Nomination, Norman Visit
Oklahoma City (Okla.) Heritage Hall standout Sterling Shepard made one of his dreams a reality Thursday morning in front of his high school classmates.
Honored during a school wide ceremony by the American Family Insurance Selection Tour for his nomination to play in the Under Armour All-American game Jan. 5 the 5-foot-10, 175-pound four-star Sooner commit endlessly thanked family and friends for their support.
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"It's an honor. There's a lot of great guys that have played in this game and it's just an honor to be able to show my talents in the game," said Shepard, who has racked up 795 yards on 46 receptions and 14 carries for 199 yards through the Chargers nine game regular season slate.
"I've seen a lot of great players and I've been able to watch the games over the last couple of years and I've always wanted to do it since I was a freshman. And then to be asked to do it after a big game is just great."
Invited to the All-American game following a jaw dropping 149-total yards, four touchdown performance in front of a national television audience the son of former Sooner legacy Derrick Shepard now has his sights set on battling fellow 2012 Sooner commits Alex Ross and Devante Harris when it comes time in St. Petersburg.
"I mean I was in a drought the two games before and I was just thinking before the game that I needed to have a big game. And it was on national TV (but) I was trying to keep that out of my head though but I got the ball and made some nice catches," said Shepard.
"I'm going to try and match-up with (Devante) that's my buddy. I was talking to him over the weekend on my official (visit). He took his official at the same time and Alex Ross did too. I'm always talking to him and he's right down the street so it's going to be great playing against those two guys."
Thursday's ceremony also comes on the heels of Shepard's official visit to Norman a place that is becoming more and more familiar to the Sooner State standout.
"It was a great game. I thought we did well. Just going around the facilities and checking out the stuff. Most of it I had already seen but I got to see a few new things."
"I'm definitely rooming with Durron Neal. He was one of my good buddies so I'm definitely going to room with him."
Interestingly enough the two star studded receivers also began the formulation of plan to land Rivals.com No. 1 ranked prospect Dorial Green-Beckham during their time together.
"Oh yeah. We were talking about it over the official and we definitely want him. That would be just another great addition to our receiver class and for years to come. It's going to be great."
But before a real lockdown recruitment of the nation's most prized recruit may commence Shepard knows there's still one more goal to be reached with the state playoffs on the horizon.
"Everybody says it's hard to repeat and it definitely is. So coaches have been stressing just to stay on our P's and Q's and let's get it done.
Heritage Hall (9-0) begins their run for a second consecutive class 3A state championship on Friday night when they host Chandler, Okla. in the first round of the playoffs.