Shepherd 2025

[Boro33]

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

Lots of newbies....0 playing experience.

[Tdobson]

Actually I’m surprised that no kids from Martinsburg high didn’t sign with Shep. It’s right down the road.

[Ram040506]

I know they offered the QB out of Martinsburg HS, but that was a long shot at best considering he got an offer and committed to Marshall. Sometimes those kids don't want to play right in the backyard, and want to get a little distance from home. It is surprising though that between Martinsburg and Spring Mills, not one kid considering they are arguably the 2 best HS programs in WV and less than 10-15 mins from Shepherd.

I have no idea if there is anything to this, but previously Dave Walker (HC at Martinsburg) didn't sent a ton of kids to Shepherd on his first stint at Martinsburg. The gates got opened a bit when Tyson committed and had great success, and that coincided with Walker taking the Concord University head job. After 2-3 years down there, he's back at Martinsburg HS now and there were no signees this year. I'm not saying he isn't a Shepherd fan or anything... but he did go to Glenville lol.

Martinsburg did have some D2 guys this year according to their twitter feed. One going to Fairmont State, another going to California PA and another going to Charleston (WV).

[IUPbigINDIANS]

I know they offered the QB out of Martinsburg HS, but that was a long shot at best considering he got an offer and committed to Marshall. Sometimes those kids don't want to play right in the backyard, and want to get a little distance from home. It is surprising though that between Martinsburg and Spring Mills, not one kid considering they are arguably the 2 best HS programs in WV and less than 10-15 mins from Shepherd.

Perhaps you'll get him in the next round (if it doesn't work out in Huntington).

Recruiting today is in stages. You have to really track the fringe guys who sign with 1-AA or lower level D1 programs. You won't get them out of high school but you may next year (or, the following).

[Ship69]

I know they offered the QB out of Martinsburg HS, but that was a long shot at best considering he got an offer and committed to Marshall. Sometimes those kids don't want to play right in the backyard, and want to get a little distance from home. It is surprising though that between Martinsburg and Spring Mills, not one kid considering they are arguably the 2 best HS programs in WV and less than 10-15 mins from Shepherd.

I have no idea if there is anything to this, but previously Dave Walker (HC at Martinsburg) didn't sent a ton of kids to Shepherd on his first stint at Martinsburg. The gates got opened a bit when Tyson committed and had great success, and that coincided with Walker taking the Concord University head job. After 2-3 years down there, he's back at Martinsburg HS now and there were no signees this year. I'm not saying he isn't a Shepherd fan or anything... but he did go to Glenville lol.

Martinsburg did have some D2 guys this year according to their twitter feed. One going to Fairmont State, another going to California PA and another going to Charleston (WV).

Apparently we have a lineman from Spring Mills coming to Ship. Haven't signed too many down that way in the past.

[Ram040506]

Apparently we have a lineman from Spring Mills coming to Ship. Haven't signed too many down that way in the past.

Will be something to keep an eye out for on recruiting. Shepherd should be getting at least 1 or 2 every year from those schools with their success one would think.

One more addition to the recruiting class:

Ian Mauldin RB 6'0" 195lbs Broadneck HS Arnold, MD

[Ram040506]

Anybody checked out spring practice at all? I was able to get up to one recently. Couple takeaways I had personally:

- QB situation, Ezra Bagent looks a lot bigger and is starting to look the part of a possible starter. The Bucknell transfer is a nice threat with his legs, can definitely run which unfortunately for him isn't a feature of spring ball as they have the no contact jerseys on. The VT transfer can throw it really well too. If I had to bet, I'd say it'll come down to Bagent and the VT guy from what I saw with some special packages perhaps for the Bucknell QB. If the OL suffers a bunch of injuries (AA Ty Lucas is being held out), maybe they go to him, but he doesn't have the same passing ability as the other 2 guys.

-DL looked much deeper and has some nice size in the middle. Baxter (3/4 year starter) is being held out, and they still look pretty good. LB's need to keep getting reps, the run fits weren't great in the team portion I saw. Might have some pass rushing talent that will really help, which the Rams haven't had since Kyle Smith left a few years back. Lot of new faces in the back 7, getting reps is going to be important because talent seems to be there.

[Boro33]

Anybody checked out spring practice at all? I was able to get up to one recently. Couple takeaways I had personally:

- QB situation, Ezra Bagent looks a lot bigger and is starting to look the part of a possible starter. The Bucknell transfer is a nice threat with his legs, can definitely run which unfortunately for him isn't a feature of spring ball as they have the no contact jerseys on. The VT transfer can throw it really well too. If I had to bet, I'd say it'll come down to Bagent and the VT guy from what I saw with some special packages perhaps for the Bucknell QB. If the OL suffers a bunch of injuries (AA Ty Lucas is being held out), maybe they go to him, but he doesn't have the same passing ability as the other 2 guys.

-DL looked much deeper and has some nice size in the middle. Baxter (3/4 year starter) is being held out, and they still look pretty good. LB's need to keep getting reps, the run fits weren't great in the team portion I saw. Might have some pass rushing talent that will really help, which the Rams haven't had since Kyle Smith left a few years back. Lot of new faces in the back 7, getting reps is going to be important because talent seems to be there.

Shep offense looked bad in spring game. Ezra Bagent went with the first group. Threw a pick 6 on undethrown ball and fumbled which was scooped up and returned for a touchdown.
Offensive line was shaky at best. Defense looked ok, but not as athletic or as experienced as last year.
Could be a long year in Shepherdstown.

[IUPbigINDIANS]

Shep offense looked bad in spring game. Ezra Bagent went with the first group. Threw a pick 6 on undethrown ball and fumbled which was scooped up and returned for a touchdown.
Offensive line was shaky at best. Defense looked ok, but not as athletic or as experienced as last year.
Could be a long year in Shepherdstown.

Hard to take much out of these games. The defense knows what's coming. Major advantage.

[RockPride]

Hot off the NCAA LSDBi portal:

Institution: Shepherd University

Date: May 14, 2025

Violation Summary: Pursuant to Bylaw 19.10.6, this negotiated resolution has no precedential value. Eligibility certification and financial aid violations occurred at Shepherd across all sports over the course of two academic years. Due to the extensive nature of the violations, the school failed to monitor its eligibility certification and financial aid processes. The former compliance officer, Amy Bell, was personally responsible for the certification shortcomings.

Penalty Summary: The parties agree to the following penalties: two years of probation; vacation of team and individual records in which ineligible players competed over the two-year period, including in baseball, football, men’s soccer, men’s basketball, men’s tennis, women’s basketball, softball, women’s cross country, women’s lacrosse and women’s tennis; a $5,000 fine; and a one-year show-cause order for Bell, restricting her from athletically related responsibilities.

Involved Sports:
Baseball , Football , Men's Soccer , Men's Tennis , Softball , Women's Basketball , Women's Cross Country , Women's Tennis

Involved Penalties:

Television: 0 yrs
Reduction in Financial Aid: No
Postseason: 0 yrs
Recruiting: No
Probation: 2 yrs
Show Cause Penalty: Yes

Vacation of Record: Yes


Case Summary:
CASE SUMMARY Shepherd failed to monitor its eligibility certification and financial aid processes. Eligibility certification and financial aid violations occurred at Shepherd across all sports over the course of two academic years, according to an agreement approved by the Division II Committee on Infractions. Due to the extensive nature of the violations, the school failed to monitor its eligibility certification and financial aid processes. The former compliance officer, Amy Bell, was personally responsible for the certification shortcomings. In total, 44 student-athletes in 10 sports were permitted to practice or compete in 265 contests — and receive actual and necessary expenses or financial aid — while ineligible or not properly certified. The specific eligibility issues included student-athletes who were errantly permitted to: • Practice and/or compete while not properly certified for amateurism. • Practice and/or compete while not enrolled full time. • Compete while not in good academic standing. • Compete without having met transferable hours requirement after transferring from a two-year school or a four-year school. • Receive athletic scholarships before being properly certified as eligible. The violations largely occurred because Bell consistently departed from established policies and procedures for eligibility certification. The school also impermissibly awarded approximately $5,424 in scholarships above legislated limits to four student-athletes in three sports. As a result, the four studentathletes competed in 41 contests and received actual and necessary expenses while ineligible. Additionally, the school failed to notify 282 student-athletes across 15 sports of the renewal or nonrenewal of their scholarships by the NCAA deadline. This included failing to notify five student-athletes in writing about the opportunity for a hearing regarding the reduction or nonrenewal of their scholarships. The school and enforcement staff agreed that the school failed to monitor the compliance department, which under Bell’s direction did not adhere to institutional processes for eligibility. Likewise, the school did not monitor its financial aid process for sending timely notification of renewals, reductions and cancellations and of studentathletes’ opportunities for a hearing. The enforcement staff considered alleging a lack of institutional control violation but agreed with the school that failure to monitor was more appropriate in this circumstance. Specifically, the violations occurred as a result of Bell’s limited compliance experience and failure to follow the school’s established processes. Before Bell’s employment and after her departure, the school met eligibility certification and financial aid requirements. The parties agree to the following penalties: • Two years of probation. • Vacation of team and individual records in which ineligible players competed over the two-year period, including in baseball, football, men’s soccer, men’s basketball, men’s tennis, women’s basketball, softball, women’s cross country, women’s lacrosse and women’s tennis. • A $5,000 fine. • A one-year show-cause order for Bell, restricting her from athletically related responsibilities

[Ram040506]

Hot off the NCAA LSDBi portal:

Institution: Shepherd University

Date: May 14, 2025

Violation Summary: Pursuant to Bylaw 19.10.6, this negotiated resolution has no precedential value. Eligibility certification and financial aid violations occurred at Shepherd across all sports over the course of two academic years. Due to the extensive nature of the violations, the school failed to monitor its eligibility certification and financial aid processes. The former compliance officer, Amy Bell, was personally responsible for the certification shortcomings.

Penalty Summary: The parties agree to the following penalties: two years of probation; vacation of team and individual records in which ineligible players competed over the two-year period, including in baseball, football, men’s soccer, men’s basketball, men’s tennis, women’s basketball, softball, women’s cross country, women’s lacrosse and women’s tennis; a $5,000 fine; and a one-year show-cause order for Bell, restricting her from athletically related responsibilities.

Involved Sports:
Baseball , Football , Men's Soccer , Men's Tennis , Softball , Women's Basketball , Women's Cross Country , Women's Tennis

Involved Penalties:

Television: 0 yrs
Reduction in Financial Aid: No
Postseason: 0 yrs
Recruiting: No
Probation: 2 yrs
Show Cause Penalty: Yes

Vacation of Record: Yes


Case Summary:
CASE SUMMARY Shepherd failed to monitor its eligibility certification and financial aid processes. Eligibility certification and financial aid violations occurred at Shepherd across all sports over the course of two academic years, according to an agreement approved by the Division II Committee on Infractions. Due to the extensive nature of the violations, the school failed to monitor its eligibility certification and financial aid processes. The former compliance officer, Amy Bell, was personally responsible for the certification shortcomings. In total, 44 student-athletes in 10 sports were permitted to practice or compete in 265 contests — and receive actual and necessary expenses or financial aid — while ineligible or not properly certified. The specific eligibility issues included student-athletes who were errantly permitted to: • Practice and/or compete while not properly certified for amateurism. • Practice and/or compete while not enrolled full time. • Compete while not in good academic standing. • Compete without having met transferable hours requirement after transferring from a two-year school or a four-year school. • Receive athletic scholarships before being properly certified as eligible. The violations largely occurred because Bell consistently departed from established policies and procedures for eligibility certification. The school also impermissibly awarded approximately $5,424 in scholarships above legislated limits to four student-athletes in three sports. As a result, the four studentathletes competed in 41 contests and received actual and necessary expenses while ineligible. Additionally, the school failed to notify 282 student-athletes across 15 sports of the renewal or nonrenewal of their scholarships by the NCAA deadline. This included failing to notify five student-athletes in writing about the opportunity for a hearing regarding the reduction or nonrenewal of their scholarships. The school and enforcement staff agreed that the school failed to monitor the compliance department, which under Bell’s direction did not adhere to institutional processes for eligibility. Likewise, the school did not monitor its financial aid process for sending timely notification of renewals, reductions and cancellations and of studentathletes’ opportunities for a hearing. The enforcement staff considered alleging a lack of institutional control violation but agreed with the school that failure to monitor was more appropriate in this circumstance. Specifically, the violations occurred as a result of Bell’s limited compliance experience and failure to follow the school’s established processes. Before Bell’s employment and after her departure, the school met eligibility certification and financial aid requirements. The parties agree to the following penalties: • Two years of probation. • Vacation of team and individual records in which ineligible players competed over the two-year period, including in baseball, football, men’s soccer, men’s basketball, men’s tennis, women’s basketball, softball, women’s cross country, women’s lacrosse and women’s tennis. • A $5,000 fine. • A one-year show-cause order for Bell, restricting her from athletically related responsibilities

Yep, explains why half the team was missing early in 2023 lol

[Fightingscot82]

They hired a Slippery Rock grad to clean up the mess

[Ram Tough]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure this is why the former compliance director is no longer there. She basically didn't do the work and then left a mess.

[iupgroundhog]

What does probation mean in this case. Not eligible for playoffs?

Answer: Now I see where it says postseason = zero years. I guess it just means they will have to do extra paperwork?

[IUPbigINDIANS]

What does probation mean in this case. Not eligible for playoffs?

Answer: Now I see where it says postseason = zero years. I guess it just means they will have to do extra paperwork?

It's about the same as being on double secret probation.