Vanderbilt’s Will Sheppard Named To Biletnikoff Award Watch List

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Will Sheppard. Photo: Courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics

Vanderbilt senior wide receiver Will Sheppard has been named to the Watch List for the Biletnikoff Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top receiver.

Sheppard is one of 50 players on the Biletnikoff Award Watch List and one of seven from the Southeastern Conference. The senior has also been named to the Watch List for the Maxwell Award, which is given to the nation’s top player each year, the Shrine Bowl 1000 and a preseason All-SEC selection by Phil Steele.

The Mandeville, Louisiana, native has led Vanderbilt in receiving touchdowns each of the last two seasons, including nine last year. That mark ranked second in the SEC and 11th in FBS.

Sheppard caught the game-winning touchdown pass with 32 seconds remaining at Kentucky, giving Vandy their first SEC victory since 2019. He posted three games with multiple touchdown grabs and had a career-best 171 receiving yards during a win at Northern Illinois.

During his sophomore season, Sheppard was part of Vanderbilt’s first game with a 300-yard passer and two 100-yard receivers in eight seasons while grabbing eight catches for 119 yards and two scores in a win over UConn.

With 1,383 career receiving yards, he looks to move into the program’s top 10 this season. He is also looking to become the 20th player to lead Vanderbilt  in receiving yards during consecutive seasons, and the first since Kalija Lipscomb in 2018-2019.

The Commodores open the season on Aug. 26 when Hawaii visits FirstBank Stadium for a 6:30 p.m. kick. Tickets are available now. For more information, click here.

Steven Boero
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