Persistent Badgers land Sheppard
The Wisconsin Badgers added another commitment to their 2015 recruiting class on Tuesday when three-star linebacker Dominic Sheppard announced his decision on Twitter.
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BadgerBlitz.com spoke with Sheppard just after he announced his commitment, and the Florida standout said in the end he picked the Badgers because they showed the most commitment to him.
"I just felt like they really wanted me," Sheppard said. "Wisconsin kept in contact with me and everything, I was talking to them every week or every day. I felt like they were the school that really wanted me."
Receivers coach Chris Beatty played a key role in Sheppard's recruitment for the Badgers.
"Coach Beatty was big for me," Sheppard said. "He was in constant contact and was very honest. He didn't lie to me about the cold weather with me being a kid from south Florida. We have a good relationship."
Sheppard is the fourth known linebacker to commit to Wisconsin's 2015 signing class along with Nick Thomas, Chris Orr and Mohamed Barry. A 6-foot-1, 226-pound prospect from Gulliver Prep High School in Miami, Sheppard picked the Badgers over other known scholarship offers from Alabama, Clemson, Miami, Ohio State and Tennessee, among others.
"I'm committed to Wisconsin but I still plan on taking some visits," he said.
Sheppard, who plans to take his official visit in October, brings some national accolades to Wisconsin's expected signing class. Rivals.com ranked him as the No. 29 outside linebacker in the 2015 class, and the No. 59 prospect in the state of Florida. With a 5.7 personal ranking, Sheppard is the top defensive prospect to commit to Wisconsin's signing class at this point in time.
Rivals.com lists Sheppard as an outside linebacker, but Sheppard told BadgerBlitz.com that he and the coaching staff think he could play on the inside as well if the need arises.
"They said I have the instincts and training where I could play both," Sheppard said. "They said it's up to me -- whatever position I want to come in at, that will be my spot."
Sheppard is also the third Florida prospect to commit to Wisconsin, joining Thomas, a linebacker from Bradenton, and Andrew James, a wide receiver from Fort Lauderdale.
COMMITED TO WISCONSIN 🔴🔴 #badgers- DSG14™ (@SheppardDominic) July 30, 2014
John Veldhuis covers Wisconsin football, basketball and recruiting for BadgerBlitz.com on the Rivals.com network. Follow him on Twitter at @JohnVeldhuis.