BOULDER — On a day when the spotlight was firmly placed on Colorado’s marquee prospects—quarterback Shedeur Sanders and star two-way player Travis Hunter—wide receiver Will Sheppard seized his opportunity to catch the attention of NFL scouts gathered in Boulder last Friday.

After arriving from Vanderbilt last offseason, Sheppard put together an under-the-radar yet productive senior year for the Buffaloes. He ended his season with 48 catches for 621 yards and six touchdowns—not necessarily numbers that leap off a stat sheet, but certainly impressive when factoring in the talent-rich environment at Colorado. Sharing snaps and targets with future NFL talents such as Travis Hunter, Jimmy Horn Jr., and LaJohntay Wester, Sheppard still carved out a critical role as one of quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ favorite targets in key situations, particularly near the end zone.

At Colorado’s Pro Day, the 6-foot-4 Sheppard delivered the kind of performance NFL evaluators love to see from a prospect his size. His testing numbers stood out, demonstrating a rare combination of size, speed, and explosive power:

• 40-yard dash: 4.54 seconds
• Vertical jump: 40.5 inches
• Broad jump: 10 feet, 11 inches

While his 4.54-second 40-yard dash is solid for a receiver of his stature, it was Sheppard’s exceptional leaping ability and explosiveness that truly caught the attention of scouts. For comparison, his 40.5-inch vertical leap would have placed him among the very top performers at this year’s NFL Combine, while his broad jump would have ranked him similarly high. These numbers validate the kind of athletic profile NFL teams typically pursue aggressively in the draft.

When asked afterward by reporters whether his impressive vertical leap was a particular focus of his training leading up to Pro Day, Sheppard responded casually, smiling, “I just kind of put my shoes on and went out and did it.” That type of natural athleticism simply cannot be coached.

He also had a clear message ready for any NFL teams evaluating his fit at the professional level:

“I can do it all. I’m big. I’m not just a possession, jump-ball guy. I can run routes, I can get yards after the catch. Inside, outside—whatever teams need me to do, I can do it. Come and get me.”

That confident pitch aligns perfectly with the versatility NFL coaches covet. While some evaluators may have previously pigeonholed Sheppard as primarily a red-zone threat, he clearly views himself—and now has scouts viewing him—as a complete receiver who can contribute at multiple levels of the passing game.

Sheppard’s performance at Colorado’s Pro Day may well have improved his draft outlook considerably. With his blend of size, explosiveness, and quiet confidence, NFL teams searching for late-round value could very well target him as a potential steal on Day 3. With the NFL Draft set for April 24-26 in Green Bay, keep an eye out—Will Sheppard’s name might soon appear on draft boards nationwide.

For Sheppard, the Pro Day spotlight provided exactly the stage he needed to prove that his best football may still be ahead of him.