Derrick Shepard Jr. ‘ready to work’ for trent dilfer and the blazers

Photo by Ken Shepherd

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - May 8, 2024

Derrick Shepard Jr. delivered a message that was short and to the point when he called to let UAB head coach Trent Dilfer know he committed to the Blazers.

“I didn’t say I committed, I didn’t say you got your guy, I said I’m ready to work,” Shepard said.

The 6-foot-3, 305-pound transfer from the University of Cincinnati delivered that message earlier this week. UAB is getting a needed addition to the defensive line from a former four-star recruit from Dayton, Ohio who played in seven games during his two seasons at Cincinnati.

As a highly sought after recruit in high school, he was used to recruiting attention. He had around 20 offers, according to 247 Sports, including Michigan, Michigan State, Kentucky, Nebraska, Washington State, Boston College, Cal, Duke and Florida State. However, he wasn’t necessarily prepared for how quickly things work upon entering the transfer portal.

“For me, the way I explain it, it was like a big Amber Alert,” Shepard said. “The minute I submitted my name in the transfer portal, my phone rang in minutes. I would say it’s like a big Amber Alert goes out to these schools.”

Shepard reported on social media that his offers included South Alabama, Temple, Georgia State and Kansas State. He said on Wednesday that he had a few visits planned but scrapped those after taking a trip to UAB last week. Dilfer and defensive line coach Miguel Patrick, who is also a Dayton native, played a big part in his decision.

“First would be Coach Patrick,” Shepard said when asked why he chose UAB. “Just hearing about him, being from Dayton, Ohio myself, people from Dayton are a little bit different, when it comes to their drive. When they say they want something done, they’re doing to get something done.

Then, honestly Coach Dilfer, he’s been where a lot of people want to be. He knows how to get there (to the NFL).”

Shepard said he heard about Patrick in his hometown but had never spoken to him before this process. But, the Dayton connection was important.

“Dayton, it ain’t big, it ain’t too small, but there are a lot of opportunities to go either way,” Shephard said. “Like I said, it ain’t too big so a lot of people know each other. Just having a lot of support means a lot. You know you have people counting on you and with you every step of the way.”

Originally, he chose to stay in Ohio with his time in Cincinnati. The Bearcats were coming off a spot in the college football playoffs when he joined the program. He was a redshirt in 2022 and was credited with four tackles and a shared tackle for loss in seven appearances at nose tackle last season.  

After spring practice, he chose to enter the transfer portal.

“I never thought the grass was greener on the other side, but change isn’t bad,” Shepard said. “I just felt like a change in environment was maybe what was needed.”

Shepard is slated to report to UAB later this month and is ready to get to work. He is one of two new recent defensive line additions, joining Ole Miss transfer Demarcus Smith, a Parker High graduate who also signed earlier this week.

“What I can bring is my experience playing in the Big 12,” said Shepard, who has three years of eligibility remaining. “Everybody talks about the Power 5, so I’m bringing my experience and my knowledge from the Power 5. And being a good teammate, being a good addition to the locker room, just bonding with everybody. Being the guy who can pull people along with you. I would say I’m still considered young but, at the same time, I’m not. That’s probably what I’ll bring to UAB.”