One of state’s best-kept secrets: Scotlandville’s two-sport standout Ferzell Shepard bound for Mississippi State

by: William Weathers // GeauxPreps.com Contributor

The original plan for Scotlandville wide receiver Ferzell Shepard was to arrive at a decision of the college of his choice near the end of August, in time to enjoy a stress-free senior season.

Shepard called an audible this weekend during his first official visit to Mississippi State when the two-sport standout issued a commitment to the Bulldogs.

“They’re a great school,” Shepard told On3Sports. “I fit perfectly in their scheme. The people love me, too, and I can call this home. It was awesome and everything was smooth. The people love me here.

“Hanging out with the coaches and the meetings that we had were the best part of it for me,” Shepard said. “I spent a lot of time with (Offensive graduate assistant Benton Duby) and he was a great guy. “(Head) Coach (Jeff) Lebby is a real straight-up guy who is going to tell it like it is. He’s cool people.”

The 6-foot-2, 170-pound Shepard, a four-star prospect who can play both the inside or outside receiver position, reported double-digit scholarship offers. He was also considering official visits to Arkansas, UL-Lafayette and Texas Tech at the time of his pledge to Lebby, MSU’s first-year head.

The recruiting process proved hectic during the spring with Shepard trying to balance recruiting with his time with Scotlandville’s track team which captured both the Division I indoor and outdoor state championships last season.

A multi-event standout, Shepard will continue his track career in college as well.

Shepard’s been part of Scotlandville’s team in this month’s Robert Graves Metro Baton Rouge 7-on-7 summer passing league.

His gliding strides, precise route-running and athletic ability were among the characteristics that enabled him to shine in outings recent against Dutchtown, Woodlawn, Plaquemine and Parkview Baptist.

Shepard was as comfortable getting behind coverage for one-play strikes into the endzone as he was breaking across the middle on slant routs. He also lengthened his route once to become clear on a play across the middle he turned into a score.

“He’s a freak of nature,” Scotlandville third-year coach Ryan Cook said of Shepard, noting Shepard previously played basketball as well. “He makes tough catches, he’s a big-play threat. (He’s) Just working on the other things like being a better blocker, route running.

“He’s able to run and catch the deep ball,” Cook said. “He uses his athletic ability. He understands what God has blessed him with and being able to use that.”

In a loaded Class of 2025 this season in Louisiana, Shepard has shed some of the early anonymity to rank No. 177 overall nationally and the No. 18 wide receiver, and the state’s sixth top prospect according to 247Sports.

“I do feel like I’m one of the top guys in Louisiana,” he said. “I also feel like I’m under the radar a bit. It’s all good. I’m going to go where I’m wanted.”

 A year after Scotlandville went 7-5 and reached the Division I select state regionals in Cook’s first season, the Hornets stumbled to a 1-9 finish in Shepard’s junior season.

That finish, and an improved cast of more experienced players, motivated Shepard to try and lead Scotlandville’s football team to a level of success that would  mirror that of the track team.

He began playing football and running track at the same time, continuing to excel at both with an eye on participating in both at the collegiate level where the life of a dual-sport athlete isn’t common.

For Shepard, it’s a way of life.

“I’m pretty sure every college knows that by now since they offered,” Shepard said of his desire to be involved in two sports. “They asked me about a second sport and I told them track.”

Shepard said he’s patterned his game on the football field after 2023’s Biletnikoff Award winner Marvin Harrison Jr. of Ohio State, a first-round draft choice of the Arizona Cardinals.

“I’ve watched him since his sophomore year,” Shepard said. “Just his ball control, strong hands and jumping ability.”

Shepard was among the catalysts on the track that helped Scotlandville to a sweep of the state indoor and outdoor championships last season.

Shepard produced a mark of 47-3 ¼ to win the state indoor championship. He took on bigger workload as the spring outdoor season neared the district championship level, participating in as many as five individual events and two relays.

“I was doing all of those events three weeks before district to get used to running it,” he said. “I had to build up my stamina.”

Shepard won the state triple jump tit;e, ran the anchor leg on the team’s winning 4×200 relay and second leg on the victorious 4×100 relay. He was a member on the Hornets’ third-place 4×400 unit.

Shepard had personal bests this season of: 10.6 (100), 21.36 (200), 47.53 (400), 23-4 ½ (long jump) and 48-8 ¾ (triple jump).

When asked of his preference of events to run in college Shepard, who was named to the 2024 All-State track team in the two short relays and triple jump, was receptive to an open event, a horizontal jump or relay.

“It’s been hectic this summer,” Shepard said. “We workout, lift and run, and I go home, go to sleep and wake up the next morning and repeat everything. It’s exciting because I’m looking for a place that me and my family can call home, with a good environment and a scheme that I fit in.”

Shepard found that in Mississippi State, maybe sooner than he expected.