Will Sheppard isn’t done yet.
The former Colorado Buffaloes wideout, who transferred from Vanderbilt for one final run with Coach Prime, is getting another shot at the NFL—this time, back in Colorado.
Sheppard is reportedly participating in the Denver Broncos’ minicamp, hoping to prove he belongs on an NFL roster after going undrafted and failing a physical with the Buccaneers in May.
At CU, Sheppard wasn’t your average grad transfer. He came to Boulder with serious credentials—over 2,000 career receiving yards at Vanderbilt, 21 career touchdowns, and All-SEC honors. He brought size (6'3", 205 lbs), experience, and SEC-level experience to the Buffs.
In 2024, Sheppard led Colorado with 621 receiving yards and six touchdowns, starting all 13 games and giving Shedeur Sanders a reliable, veteran target. His best game? A clutch two-touchdown performance against Utah, including a 40-yard bomb to open the scoring.
That game felt like a glimpse of what he could bring to the next level.
And yet—no Combine invite. No draft call. Then came the failed physical with Tampa Bay, and just like that, Sheppard’s NFL dreams were hanging by a thread.
At CU’s Pro Day, despite not being 100% healthy, Sheppard turned heads. He posted a 4.54-second 40-yard dash and an eye-popping 40.5-inch vertical. And perhaps more importantly, he had a long, animated conversation with Sean Payton.
Turns out, that conversation wasn’t just small talk. It planted a seed.
Now Sheppard is officially trying out for the Broncos, competing for a depth spot behind Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., and Devaughn Vele. Denver also drafted Illinois WR Pat Bryant in the third round (who looked incredible today), so it won’t be easy.
Coach Prime had nothing but praise for Sheppard at CU’s showcase, calling him “a big-time receiver” and “a tremendous asset” who wins 50-50 balls more often than not. Prime even went out of his way to talk to scouts about Sheppard’s work ethic and character.
But let’s not forget what kind of player Sheppard was even before Colorado. In 2022 at Vandy, he dropped 776 yards and nine touchdowns, finishing second in the SEC in receiving TDs. He’s got the resume. He’s got the size. And now, with one more chance, he’s got a shot to do it in Colorado again.
So don’t count Will Sheppard out just yet. He might not have been drafted, but he’s still got the one thing you can’t measure at a Pro Day: heart.
So for the Broncos? Let's just hope they found a gem in their own backyard.
—
Want more stories like this? Follow us on X for all things Colorado Football and Basketball.