Shepherd 2025

[Ram040506]

New year for the Rams. Here's the rumblings from Twitter for verbal commit's I've seen thus far heading into 2025 signing day time:

Christian Cofield DB 6'0 190lbs Dundalk HS
Travon Dye LB/DE 6'2" 240lbs Fork Union Academy
Amarian Manuel DB 5'11" 170lbs Stephen Decatur HS
Noah Micks ATH 6'1" 190lbs Salesianum School (DE)
Jackson Sigler QB 6'1" 203lbs Mountain View HS (Virginia Tech) 3 yrs eligibility
Brady Heiser QB 6'0" 195lbs Gettysburgh Area HS
Jake Mangano 6'2" 275lbs OL/DL Colonial Forge HS
Devin Ellison QB/ATH 6'0" 190lbs Broad Run HS
Nathan Muhle DT 6'4" 270lbs Returning to Shepherd after 1 yr at Harding, 1 year eligibility
Tyvon Callaway-Toles OLB 6'0" 210lbs Henry Wise HS
Uchenna Ibe 6'1" 195lbs DB Wagner College transfer, 2 years eligibility
Michael Hardyway 6'0" 208lbs QB Grad transfer from Bucknell, 1 year eligibility

Heard there was some good news on eligibility for Jordan Groves as well at LB. He was in the rotation last year, and will probably lead the group this year.

[Boro33]

New year for the Rams. Here's the rumblings from Twitter for verbal commit's I've seen thus far heading into 2025 signing day time:

Christian Cofield DB 6'0 190lbs Dundalk HS
Travon Dye LB/DE 6'2" 240lbs Fork Union Academy
Amarian Manuel DB 5'11" 170lbs Stephen Decatur HS
Noah Micks ATH 6'1" 190lbs Salesianum School (DE)
Jackson Sigler QB 6'1" 203lbs Mountain View HS (Virginia Tech) 3 yrs eligibility
Brady Heiser QB 6'0" 195lbs Gettysburgh Area HS
Jake Mangano 6'2" 275lbs OL/DL Colonial Forge HS
Devin Ellison QB/ATH 6'0" 190lbs Broad Run HS
Nathan Muhle DT 6'4" 270lbs Returning to Shepherd after 1 yr at Harding, 1 year eligibility
Tyvon Callaway-Toles OLB 6'0" 210lbs Henry Wise HS
Uchenna Ibe 6'1" 195lbs DB Wagner College transfer, 2 years eligibility
Michael Hardyway 6'0" 208lbs QB Grad transfer from Bucknell, 1 year eligibility

Heard there was some good news on eligibility for Jordan Groves as well at LB. He was in the rotation last year, and will probably lead the group this year.

Alot of question marks heading into spring for sure...

[Ram040506]

Alot of question marks heading into spring for sure...

Always questions heading into spring. I think the 2 big questions for the Rams are the following:

1. How will the defense rebound after losing around 6/7 starters to the portal? Getting Muhle back on the DL will certainly help.

2. Who will be the QB? Couple transfers coming in, and will the OL benefit from the forced playing time last year some backups had to get due to injuries? I don't have much concern about the RB/WR situation. I feel like those guys you can find.

[Boro33]

Always questions heading into spring. I think the 2 big questions for the Rams are the following:

1. How will the defense rebound after losing around 6/7 starters to the portal? Getting Muhle back on the DL will certainly help.

2. Who will be the QB? Couple transfers coming in, and will the OL benefit from the forced playing time last year some backups had to get due to injuries? I don't have much concern about the RB/WR situation. I feel like those guys you can find.

Cause for concern is the total offensive and defensive production lost.
The yardage lost between QB and WRs from last year is a concern Qb: Over 2,000 yds. Wrs: Graduation and Portal: Over 2,000 in receptions.
Replacements will be made but lost is any timing and continuity between them. The RB room will be really good as all return. The Oline was injured and most if not all should return. Depth at that position is non existent. They need to get Oline depth for the following year as there will be at least 2 seniors starting this coming season.
Defense lost all starting lbs and 2 starting dbs. This is a defense that was a major disappointment. Bombs over Bagdad in the secondary. Run defense was great.
Shep will recover but it will take an entire season. Patience.

[Ram040506]

Cause for concern is the total offensive and defensive production lost.
The yardage lost between QB and WRs from last year is a concern Qb: Over 2,000 yds. Wrs: Graduation and Portal: Over 2,000 in receptions.
Replacements will be made but lost is any timing and continuity between them. The RB room will be really good as all return. The Oline was injured and most if not all should return. Depth at that position is non existent. They need to get Oline depth for the following year as there will be at least 2 seniors starting this coming season.
Defense lost all starting lbs and 2 starting dbs. This is a defense that was a major disappointment. Bombs over Bagdad in the secondary. Run defense was great.
Shep will recover but it will take an entire season. Patience.

In terms of production, and I am not trying to beat a dead horse, but the QB spot produced the least productive season at that position in about 10-15 seasons. Play calling, personnel, whatever we want to point the finger at there... I'm hoping and counting on regression to the mean here.

The WR room, Dorner is an absolute stud and will be missed for his big play ability absolutely. Personal opinion here... but if you look at Twitter and try to follow the transfer portal in general, for every lineman there are about 40-50 WR/DB types in there. Cupboard to pick from is vast. Barry Hill and Jeremiah Taylor were very solid players, but I wouldn't call them irreplaceable players. Batten being back and a freshman that I saw play in highschool a couple years ago by the name of Antonio Berry I have pretty high hopes for. Putting this WR room together, I don't think will be terribly difficult as long as they have a guy who can deliver the ball to them.

Defensive production is absolutely a cause for concern. Lost some serious production in our top 4 ILB's. DL still needs pass rushers, we don't seem to have that lean edge rusher who collapses the pocket. Have some solid interior guys and tweener types (like the 6' 270 lb DE/DT type), so they'll be able to keep playing that odd front, but will they have the LB group to make the run defense effective? Guess we'll see through spring.

As for the secondary, the secondary has always been a struggle if they don't have that true leader back there to direct everything. Haven't seen that player at FS since Tre Sullivan left back in 2016. Before him it was Corey Washington, before him it was Dan Peters, etc. They had some guys get the experience last year, but we'll see if that translates to improved communication and coverage.

[Boro33]

In terms of production, and I am not trying to beat a dead horse, but the QB spot produced the least productive season at that position in about 10-15 seasons. Play calling, personnel, whatever we want to point the finger at there... I'm hoping and counting on regression to the mean here.

The WR room, Dorner is an absolute stud and will be missed for his big play ability absolutely. Personal opinion here... but if you look at Twitter and try to follow the transfer portal in general, for every lineman there are about 40-50 WR/DB types in there. Cupboard to pick from is vast. Barry Hill and Jeremiah Taylor were very solid players, but I wouldn't call them irreplaceable players. Batten being back and a freshman that I saw play in highschool a couple years ago by the name of Antonio Berry I have pretty high hopes for. Putting this WR room together, I don't think will be terribly difficult as long as they have a guy who can deliver the ball to them.

Defensive production is absolutely a cause for concern. Lost some serious production in our top 4 ILB's. DL still needs pass rushers, we don't seem to have that lean edge rusher who collapses the pocket. Have some solid interior guys and tweener types (like the 6' 270 lb DE/DT type), so they'll be able to keep playing that odd front, but will they have the LB group to make the run defense effective? Guess we'll see through spring.

As for the secondary, the secondary has always been a struggle if they don't have that true leader back there to direct everything. Haven't seen that player at FS since Tre Sullivan left back in 2016. Before him it was Corey Washington, before him it was Dan Peters, etc. They had some guys get the experience last year, but we'll see if that translates to improved communication and coverage.

Prediction 5-6

[Ram040506]

Prediction 5-6

Would be the first losing season in 22 years.

I think they get back to their solid play and finish 8-3 just missing the playoffs.

[Boro33]

You could be right. One point to remember is that you really can't count the WVIAC/ Mountain East/West wins. Shepherd could sleepwalk through 9 or 10 games easily. That conference was a joke compared to the current PSAC .They have found sledding in the PSAC to be much more difficult. Lock Haven, Bloom, and West Chester are no longer pushover. Shep has to hope it's crossover games are not tough.

[SRU 88]

Shep gets ROCK and Clarion in their early season crossovers both on the road. They do get Kutztown at home.

[Boro33]

Shep gets ROCK and Clarion in their early season crossovers both on the road. They do get Kutztown at home.

No way they beat Slimy Pebble on road in week 1. The interesting game for Shep is week 2 on road vs Clarion. This will be a major challenge for Shep given all the new replacements...especially at qb and wr. Clarion, when healthy,at home, early in season will be a formidable opponent for Rams.

[Ram040506]

You could be right. One point to remember is that you really can't count the WVIAC/ Mountain East/West wins. Shepherd could sleepwalk through 9 or 10 games easily. That conference was a joke compared to the current PSAC .They have found sledding in the PSAC to be much more difficult. Lock Haven, Bloom, and West Chester are no longer pushover. Shep has to hope it's crossover games are not tough.

It's been nearly 7 years since the MEC days, do we still need to keep making this point? The PSAC is a deeper league, sure we get it. That's why last year happened, those teams were able to get up and take the Rams down.

As a fan, it's much more enjoyable to see some more competitive games, so we are enjoying the PSAC more than the days of the MEC. The Rams asked for it and wanted it, pursued it.

One thing I'm trying to keep an eye on is the new AD, and her influence on the entire sports landscape at Shepherd. We are only 2/3rds of the way into her first year and I'm not sure how much can be attributed to her, but rumor is she envisioned a more evenly distributed landscape amongst all the sports there (to me that means $). It's no secret that previously, Shepherd had a lot of the eggs in the football basket. So far in her first fall, the football team had their worst year in quite some time, but for a change womens soccer made it to the national quarterfinals, Volleyball had a great year going 24-6. The men's basketball team isn't .500!!!! currently at 14-7. It's great for the athletics program as a whole, but I'm hoping all of this isn't going to be at the detriment of the football program. Guess we'll see.

[Boro33]

It's been nearly 7 years since the MEC days, do we still need to keep making this point? The PSAC is a deeper league, sure we get it. That's why last year happened, those teams were able to get up and take the Rams down.

As a fan, it's much more enjoyable to see some more competitive games, so we are enjoying the PSAC more than the days of the MEC. The Rams asked for it and wanted it, pursued it.

One thing I'm trying to keep an eye on is the new AD, and her influence on the entire sports landscape at Shepherd. We are only 2/3rds of the way into her first year and I'm not sure how much can be attributed to her, but rumor is she envisioned a more evenly distributed landscape amongst all the sports there (to me that means $). It's no secret that previously, Shepherd had a lot of the eggs in the football basket. So far in her first fall, the football team had their worst year in quite some time, but for a change womens soccer made it to the national quarterfinals, Volleyball had a great year going 24-6. The men's basketball team isn't .500!!!! currently at 14-7. It's great for the athletics program as a whole, but I'm hoping all of this isn't going to be at the detriment of the football program. Guess we'll see.

Shep football relies HEAVILY on a handful of donors for scholarship coin. I do not think the new AD will change past practices as far as the money the football team receives from he school for schollies

[Ram040506]

Per @suramsfootball on X, the following have put ink to paper for Shepherd (for at least a semester lol):

High School
Tijaun Reed DB 5'11" 195lbs Forest Park HS Baltimore, MD
Travon Dye DE 6'1" 215lbs Fork Union MA Passaic, NJ
Chris Jamison OL 6'2" 270lbs The Hill School Camden, DE
Devin Ellison RB 6'0" 190lbs Broad Run HS Ashburn, VA
Christian Cofield DB 5'11" 195lbs Dundalk HS Dundalk, MD
Chase Loftis LB 6'0" 210lbs Loudoun Valley HS Purcellville, VA
Amir Wallace-Jones WR 6'1" 190lbs St Johns College HS Brooklyn Park, MD
Jake Mangano OL 6'3" 285lbs Colonial Forge HS Stafford, VA
Briggs Smithson LB 6'4" 200lbs Cave Spring HS Roanoke, VA
Ka'Rontez Bratten RB 5'7" 170lbs Parkside HS Salisbury, MD
Antonio Blueford WR 6'4" 190lbs Cambridge-South Dorchester HS Cambridge, MD
Brady Heiser QB 6'0" 200lbs Gettysburg HS Gettysburg, PA
Tyrin Chinn-Thompson DB 6'0" 190lbs Broadneck HS Arnold, MD
Jabril Daniels RB 5'10" 190lbs Fort Hill HS Cumberland, MD
D'Myo Hunter DB 6'0" 190lbs Blue Ridge School Culpepper, VA
Reginald Hill DL 6'2" 300lbs CH Flowers HS Springdale, MD
Si'Yawn Lester DB 6'0" 170lbs Henry Lackey HS Indian Head, MD
Zakhari Baker WR 5'10" 160lbs Stephen Decatur HS Berlin, MD
Amarian Manuel DB 5'11" 190lbs Stephen Decatur HS Berlin, MD
Kendrick Young DE 6'0" 235lbs Bishop McNamara HS Forestville, MD
Tavion Clark WR 6'0"175lbs Heritage HS Lynchburg, VA
Derrell Pierson WR 6'1" 185lbs Milford Mill Academy Baltimore, MD
Tyvon Callaway-Toles LB 6'0" 210lbs Henry Wise HS Upper Marlboro, MD

Transfers
Uchenna Ibe DB 6'0" 200lbs Wagner (Glen Burnie, MD)
Jordan Tapscott WR 6'1" 190lbs Virginia Tech (Warrenton, VA)
Carrington Nickens-Yzer WR 5'10" 190lbs Lackawanna JC (Centreville, VA)
Max Barba K/P 5'10" 180lbs McPherson College (Chester, MD)
Devin Harper LB 6'2" 230lbs Albany/Lackawanna (Centreville, VA)
Wyatt Hagan QB 6'0" 190lbs VMI/Lackawanna (Chantilly, VA)
Jackson Sigler QB 6'1" 205lbs Virginia Tech (Stafford, VA)
Chase Soper QB 6'0" 210lbs James Madison/Wofford (Alexandria, VA)
Michael Hardyway QB 6'0" 210lbs Bucknell (Oceanside, CA)

Looks like the QB depth issue is being addressed pretty heavily, along with the back 7 of the defense.

[Iupgh]

Per @suramsfootball on X, the following have put ink to paper for Shepherd (for at least a semester lol):

High School
Tijaun Reed DB 5'11" 195lbs Forest Park HS Baltimore, MD
Travon Dye DE 6'1" 215lbs Fork Union MA Passaic, NJ
Chris Jamison OL 6'2" 270lbs The Hill School Camden, DE
Devin Ellison RB 6'0" 190lbs Broad Run HS Ashburn, VA
Christian Cofield DB 5'11" 195lbs Dundalk HS Dundalk, MD
Chase Loftis LB 6'0" 210lbs Loudoun Valley HS Purcellville, VA
Amir Wallace-Jones WR 6'1" 190lbs St Johns College HS Brooklyn Park, MD
Jake Mangano OL 6'3" 285lbs Colonial Forge HS Stafford, VA
Briggs Smithson LB 6'4" 200lbs Cave Spring HS Roanoke, VA
Ka'Rontez Bratten RB 5'7" 170lbs Parkside HS Salisbury, MD
Antonio Blueford WR 6'4" 190lbs Cambridge-South Dorchester HS Cambridge, MD
Brady Heiser QB 6'0" 200lbs Gettysburg HS Gettysburg, PA
Tyrin Chinn-Thompson DB 6'0" 190lbs Broadneck HS Arnold, MD
Jabril Daniels RB 5'10" 190lbs Fort Hill HS Cumberland, MD
D'Myo Hunter DB 6'0" 190lbs Blue Ridge School Culpepper, VA
Reginald Hill DL 6'2" 300lbs CH Flowers HS Springdale, MD
Si'Yawn Lester DB 6'0" 170lbs Henry Lackey HS Indian Head, MD
Zakhari Baker WR 5'10" 160lbs Stephen Decatur HS Berlin, MD
Amarian Manuel DB 5'11" 190lbs Stephen Decatur HS Berlin, MD
Kendrick Young DE 6'0" 235lbs Bishop McNamara HS Forestville, MD
Tavion Clark WR 6'0"175lbs Heritage HS Lynchburg, VA
Derrell Pierson WR 6'1" 185lbs Milford Mill Academy Baltimore, MD
Tyvon Callaway-Toles LB 6'0" 210lbs Henry Wise HS Upper Marlboro, MD

Transfers
Uchenna Ibe DB 6'0" 200lbs Wagner (Glen Burnie, MD)
Jordan Tapscott WR 6'1" 190lbs Virginia Tech (Warrenton, VA)
Carrington Nickens-Yzer WR 5'10" 190lbs Lackawanna JC (Centreville, VA)
Max Barba K/P 5'10" 180lbs McPherson College (Chester, MD)
Devin Harper LB 6'2" 230lbs Albany/Lackawanna (Centreville, VA)
Wyatt Hagan QB 6'0" 190lbs VMI/Lackawanna (Chantilly, VA)
Jackson Sigler QB 6'1" 205lbs Virginia Tech (Stafford, VA)
Chase Soper QB 6'0" 210lbs James Madison/Wofford (Alexandria, VA)
Michael Hardyway QB 6'0" 210lbs Bucknell (Oceanside, CA)

Looks like the QB depth issue is being addressed pretty heavily, along with the back 7 of the defense.

Shotgun approach at QB. Interesting to see how the cash was divided up on all those cats…

[nova2wv]

Per @suramsfootball on X, the following have put ink to paper for Shepherd (for at least a semester lol):

High School
Tijaun Reed DB 5'11" 195lbs Forest Park HS Baltimore, MD
Travon Dye DE 6'1" 215lbs Fork Union MA Passaic, NJ
Chris Jamison OL 6'2" 270lbs The Hill School Camden, DE
Devin Ellison RB 6'0" 190lbs Broad Run HS Ashburn, VA
Christian Cofield DB 5'11" 195lbs Dundalk HS Dundalk, MD
Chase Loftis LB 6'0" 210lbs Loudoun Valley HS Purcellville, VA
Amir Wallace-Jones WR 6'1" 190lbs St Johns College HS Brooklyn Park, MD
Jake Mangano OL 6'3" 285lbs Colonial Forge HS Stafford, VA
Briggs Smithson LB 6'4" 200lbs Cave Spring HS Roanoke, VA
Ka'Rontez Bratten RB 5'7" 170lbs Parkside HS Salisbury, MD
Antonio Blueford WR 6'4" 190lbs Cambridge-South Dorchester HS Cambridge, MD
Brady Heiser QB 6'0" 200lbs Gettysburg HS Gettysburg, PA
Tyrin Chinn-Thompson DB 6'0" 190lbs Broadneck HS Arnold, MD
Jabril Daniels RB 5'10" 190lbs Fort Hill HS Cumberland, MD
D'Myo Hunter DB 6'0" 190lbs Blue Ridge School Culpepper, VA
Reginald Hill DL 6'2" 300lbs CH Flowers HS Springdale, MD
Si'Yawn Lester DB 6'0" 170lbs Henry Lackey HS Indian Head, MD
Zakhari Baker WR 5'10" 160lbs Stephen Decatur HS Berlin, MD
Amarian Manuel DB 5'11" 190lbs Stephen Decatur HS Berlin, MD
Kendrick Young DE 6'0" 235lbs Bishop McNamara HS Forestville, MD
Tavion Clark WR 6'0"175lbs Heritage HS Lynchburg, VA
Derrell Pierson WR 6'1" 185lbs Milford Mill Academy Baltimore, MD
Tyvon Callaway-Toles LB 6'0" 210lbs Henry Wise HS Upper Marlboro, MD

Transfers
Uchenna Ibe DB 6'0" 200lbs Wagner (Glen Burnie, MD)
Jordan Tapscott WR 6'1" 190lbs Virginia Tech (Warrenton, VA)
Carrington Nickens-Yzer WR 5'10" 190lbs Lackawanna JC (Centreville, VA)
Max Barba K/P 5'10" 180lbs McPherson College (Chester, MD)
Devin Harper LB 6'2" 230lbs Albany/Lackawanna (Centreville, VA)
Wyatt Hagan QB 6'0" 190lbs VMI/Lackawanna (Chantilly, VA)
Jackson Sigler QB 6'1" 205lbs Virginia Tech (Stafford, VA)
Chase Soper QB 6'0" 210lbs James Madison/Wofford (Alexandria, VA)
Michael Hardyway QB 6'0" 210lbs Bucknell (Oceanside, CA)

Looks like the QB depth issue is being addressed pretty heavily, along with the back 7 of the defense.

We might have a few more trickle in - BUT, not one kid from WV? Pretty surprising there wasn't a signee from at least Martinsburg HS.