2015 D2 Football Championship Profile: Shepherd Rams

SCOUTING THE BR-2 SHEPHERD UNIVERSITY RAMS

TEAM PAGE

Location: Shepherdstown, W.Va.

Conference: Mountain East Conference

Head Coach: Monte Cater (29th season at Shepherd, 221-90-1; 35th overall, 251-114-2)

D2 Football Playoff Appearance: 9th (1998-1999, 2005-2007, 2010, 2012, 2013)

All-Time D2 Football Playoffs Record: 10-8

Best D2 Football Playoffs Finish (prior to this season): National Semifinalist (2010)

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Road to the 2015 D2 Football Championship Game

Regular Season

• Sept. 5: BR-43 Shepherd 43, BR-140 West Virginia Wesleyan 0
• Sept. 12: BR-39 Shepherd 45, BR-60 Charleston (W.Va.) 25
• Sept. 19: BR-35 Shepherd 14, BR-160 Virginia-Wise 10
• Sept. 26: BR-33 Shepherd 43, BR-109 Notre Dame (Ohio) 14
• Oct. 10: BR-31 Shepherd 48, BR-106 Glenville State 31
• Oct. 17: BR-34 Shepherd 46, BR-142 West Virginia State 17
• Oct. 24: BR-16 Shepherd 35, BR-48 Concord 28
• Oct. 31: BR-15 Shepherd 44, BR-131 West Liberty 10
• Nov. 5: BR-9 Shepherd 41, BR-119 Fairmont State 14
• Nov. 14: BR-11 Shepherd 52, BR-156 Urbana 20

D2 Football Playoffs

• First Round: BYE
• Second Round: BR-8 Shepherd 17, BR-19 Indiana (Pa.) 13
• Quarterfinals: BR-6 Shepherd 28, BR-4 Slippery Rock 16
• Semifinals: BR-4 Shepherd 34, BR-3 Grand Valley State 32

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PROJECTED STARTERS: OFFENSE

• Soph. Connor Jessop: Threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns on 15-of-20 passing in relief of Jr. QB Jeff Ziemba in Shepherd’s win over Grand Valley State
• Sr. RB Allen Cross: 989 yards and 10 TDs on 196 carries for the season; ran for career-high 157 yards and 2 TD on 16 carries vs. Grand Valley State; Jr. RB Jabre Lolley: 970 yards and 14 TDs on the season
• Jr. WR Billy Brown: 83 catches for 1,397 yards and 9 TDs on the season; caught 9 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns vs. Grand Valley State
• Jr. WR Tony Squirewell: 49 catches for 659 yards and 6 TDs on the season; caught 7 passes for 61 yards and a touchdown vs. Slippery Rock
• Sr. FB Jon Hammer
• Jr. TE Jamie Deason
• Fr. LT Jaime Colon: Earned his first career start at left guard vs. IUP
• Fr. LG Levi Lloyd: Started first two games of season at right guard
• Jr. C Jake Kingston: First-year starter for the Rams
• Sr. RG Zach Buffkin: Started first two games of season at left guard
• Soph. RT Lavonte Hights

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PROJETED STARTERS: DEFENSE

• Sr. DE Shaneil Jenkins: Leads team with 20.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks on the season
• Sr. DT Isaiah Ross: Recorded 12 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks on the season
• Soph. NT Tatah Ndeh: Recorded 23 tackles (1.5 for loss) on the season
• Soph. DE Myles Humphrey: Recorded 12 tackles for loss and 5 sacks on the season
• Jr. LB Jaylen Johnson: Broke up 8 passes and recorded 6 tackles for loss this season
• Jr. LB Cameron Reynolds: Recorded 2.5 tackles for loss and 2 interceptions on the season
• Jr. LB Octavius Thomas: Recorded 54 tackles (32 solo; 7 for loss) on the season
• Sr. DB Keon Robinson: Leads team with 75 tackles (61 solo; 4 for loss) on season; recorded 11 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery vs. Slippery Rock
• Jr. CB C.J. Davis: Leads team with 18 passes defended (16 pass breakups, 2 INTs) on the season, including a pick-six vs. Grand Valley State
• Jr. DB Tre Sullivan: Defended 14 passes (11 pass breakups, 3 interceptions) this season
• Jr. CB Adam Coles: Led team with five interceptions, including two picks vs. Grand Valley State

Other Players to Watch

• Sr. DT Elijah Norris: Recorded 6 tackles for loss (3 sacks) on the season
• Sr. K Ryan Earls: 18-for-23 on field goal attempts
• Fr. P Ruan Venter: Net average of 41.1 yards per punt on 55 punts, placed 16 punts inside the 20