'12 CA CB Tee Shepard (Ole Miss Transfer)

[Sherm Sticky]

Christian Lombard was the first commit that season.

That's right you are correct. My bad fellas

 

[GBdomer]

Don't get too excited, fellas. He's not done with visits. All he's accomplished in giving a verbal to ND is getting us excited and getting more national attention from other programs.

Bama, Miami, Notre Dame, USC, Auburn, Oregon all offered.

I am pretty sure he's has peoples attention.

 

[IrishInFl]

Yeah, I shouldn't get too excited for our first commit, which have stuck over the past few years, wants to come to Notre Dame. Stop pissing on everyone's parade.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Some video on our new commit:

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/y6Ug_GigtqA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I don't know why, but his game reminds me of Antonio Cromartie when he came out of high school and his years at FSU. Which is a good thing.

 

[mgriff]

Great news to wake up to! Welcome to the Irish, Tee!

 

[JDAtlanta]

His interview on ISD sounds like

His interview on ISD sounds like

Would love to know what you're basing this on other than the fact that we got played by JH last year. Doesn't mean every kid is going to be finicky...

As for Tee, Scout has his 40 time at 4.5. Hope that's closer to the truth than the 4.7 in the OP.

EDIT: There appears to be conflicting info as they have his combine time as 4.71, yet up top next to his height and weight they show 4.5

He had the offer he wanted and that was it. "He didn't want to lead the other coaches on."
We are keeping this one.

 

[Ironman8]

Quote from Shepard from ESPN:

"Notre Dame had everything I was looking for. I love the tradition, the new coaching staff and what the school is all about. It's a privilege to say you attend Notre Dame and I know the program has been down for a few years but they're turning the corner and I'm excited to be a part of making them the top program in the country once again," he said.

 

[TerryTate]

He told Hegarty at the AA game that he'd see him next year. He's been high on ND for quite some time. I think he sticks.

 

[InKellyITrust]

Quote from Shepard from ESPN:

Great find. Thanks for the info!

 

[ThePiombino]

Quote from Shepard from ESPN: "Notre Dame had everything I was looking for. I love the tradition, the new coaching staff and what the school is all about. It's a privilege to say you attend Notre Dame and I know the program has been down for a few years but they're turning the corner and I'm excited to be a part of making them the top program in the country once again," he said

Love it! Awesome character.

 

[Ironman8]

He told Hegarty at the AA game that he'd see him next year. He's been high on ND for quite some time. I think he sticks.

I hope he is Jalen Brown 2.0 (recruiting wise). Commits without seeing the campus, goes about his recruiting quietly, visits campus and it reaffirms his decision, signs. Too much too ask?

Either way, great 2nd name to the 2012 class.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

Either way, great 2nd name to the 2012 class.

2nd name? Did I miss the first?

 

[Ironman8]

Either way, great 2nd name to the 2012 class.

2nd name? Did I miss the first?

I was counting Chris Badger. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I was counting Chris Badger. Sorry for the confusion.

Very true

 

[TerryTate]

From NBC:

Elite CB recruit Tee Shepard is commit No. 1 for Irish | Inside the Irish

Elite CB recruit Tee Shepard is commit No. 1 for Irish
Keith Arnold
Mar 2, 2011, 2:32 PM EST
Leave a comment With eleven months to go until next year’s signing day, the Irish notched their first verbal commitment for the 2012 recruiting class. And while it’s hard to get too excited about a verbal commitment that’s far from binding, the Irish reeled in Fresno cornerback Tee Shepard, one of the most coveted cover corners on the West Coast.

IrishSportsDaily.com got the quote of record from Shepard:

“I committed to Notre Dame,” Shepard told IrishSportsDaily.com. “I am happy to get it over with. I didn’t want to play with the other coaches. They have a job to do, and I didn’t want to lead them on. I just wanted to get it out of the way. I mean, I had 27 offers, but I always wanted Notre Dame. I am excited.”
And a runner-up quote from ESPN.com’s Greg Biggins:

“They knew I was going to Notre Dame but thought I would go through the process a little longer,” Shepard said. “For me, it came down to knowing what I wanted to do and just not wanting to waste anyone’s time. The second they offered me, I knew I would be going to Notre Dame so there was no need to drag this out.

“Notre Dame had everything I was looking for. I love the tradition, the new coaching staff and what the school is all about. It’s a privilege to say you attend Notre Dame and I know the program has been down for a few years but they’re turning the corner and I’m excited to be a part of making them the top program in the country once again.”
We learned during the last recruiting cycle that a verbal commitment travels a long and winding round to actually signing on the dotted line, but there’s plenty to get excited about for Irish fans looking at commitment No. 1 for Brian Kelly and the Irish. Here are a few:

COHORTS:

If you’re looking to judge Shepard on his offer list, get ready to be impressed. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound cornerback has offers from Alabama, Auburn, Cal, Miami, UCLA, Washington and USC among the 27 Shepard claims.

PRIORITY:

Shepard was the first cornerback offered by the Irish back in May of 2010, and during the Team USA All-Star game where 2011 commits Matt Hegarty, Stephon Tuitt, George and Josh Atkinson, and Anthony Rabasa played, Shepard was already hinting that he’d be joining the Irish soon.

He’s another great recruiting get by tight ends coach Mike Denbrock in California, who reeled in the Atkinson brothers and Troy Niklas this year, and kept Justin Utupo and Cameron Roberson in the fold in 2010.

STAR RATING:

It’s too early to get star crazy as the major websites haven’t gone through their initial evaluations, but all signs point to Shepard being a Top 100 player in the country, and potentially a five-star recruit.

MESSAGE BOARD INTEL:

This comes courtesy of Fresno Mike, who frequents the ND Nation board, and has probably, actually, shockingly had a chance to see Shepard play with his own eyes, something not many recruitniks can actually say:

His DB coach, Tony Perry, says that he’ll be the best corner that he’s coached. That’s a tall order as this particular area of Fresno (primarily Edison High but now also Central) has sent DB’s coached by Perry to Oklahoma, Michigan, Oregon, USC, UCLA, Cal, Georgia Tech, Arizona, Colorado and Fresno State among other schools over the past 10 years. That includes current Oregon starter Cliff Harris and Arizona starter Robert Golden. Harris has also indicated that Tee could be the best of the bunch. Oregon will be in the hunt also…especially since Harris is in Eugene and they do a great job recruiting this area.

Harris at Oregon. TJ McDonald…now a starting safety at USC. Robert Golden…now a starting corner at Arizona. Tevin McDonald…will start at UCLA this fall as a redshirt freshman. Courtney Viney…scholie to UCLA. Brandon Leslie…scholie to Georgia Tech…now going to Hawaii. Aaron Miller…scholie to Oklahoma. Johnny Sears…scholie to Michigan. Bernard Hicks and Robert Peele…scholies to Cal. Lorenzo Sims…scholie to Colorado. Clifton Smith…scholie to Fresno State and played in ’08 Pro Bowl. All of those kids played at Edison between the ’01 and ’09 seasons and the ’08 team had a starting defensive backfield of Harris, TJ McDonald, Golden and Leslie. Not a bad high school defensive secondary.
Translation: This guy could be good.

CONCLUSION:

It might have taken a little longer than most wanted for that first recruiting domino to fall, but Shepard is the type of recruit that’s worth waiting for. Now all the Notre Dame staff has to do is hold off the rest of the country.

 

[jakerbluegold]

Fantastic news! Glad he's aboard!

 

[Old Man Mike]

Praise the Lord...what else do we need to know?? Welcome to a great school and a great career!

 

[DoverShores]

I don't think I'd wish to start this recruiting season off any other way than to get a big time corner, awesome. Welcome Tee!

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

One of the best corners. Check. On to the next one.

 

[Irish Man3]

I thought Tee would end up Irish but not this early. I hope this opens some eyes around the country and kids begin to flock to ND. We need to win to keep momentum. If we can show up on the field this year, expect this to continue.

A top 100 player and potential 5* DB to kick things off? Could it have been scripted any better?

 

[Ironman8]

Will visit ND for the first time for the weekend of the Blue and Gold game April 16th per the SBT.

South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame Football: Irish get first recruit for 2012

 

[anarin]

CONCLUSION:

It might have taken a little longer than most wanted for that first recruiting domino to fall, but Shepard is the type of recruit that’s worth waiting for. Now all the Notre Dame staff has to do is hold off the rest of the country.

Rabid dogs!!! We're gonna have to beat them off with a stick.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Rabid dogs!!! We're gonna have to beat them off with a stick.

The old adage in recruiting when someone commits early: Now everyone knows who they have to recruit against the hardest and who they have to beat...

 

[rikkitikki08]

We win on the field and we wont have to worry about any of our recruits jumping ship. Winning is key and im really really stoked we got this kid. He has good size as well

 

[Junkhead]

Prepare for him to drop to 3 stars. Seriously, great news!

 

[ThePiombino]

Prepare for him to drop to 3 stars. Seriously, great news!

At least with ESPN

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

Welcome, and great news. Way to start the Irish 2012 recruiting--Tee I am glad you are aboard.

Irish fans, do you rather beat people off and have kids committed or just go out and recruit and have no commitments?

I want commitments. Plain and simple. A lot of times these kids want to be part of something, and if there is other good kids verballing--they want to be part of it. I am 100% behind these early commits. I want good kids, good athletes, and kids that want to be here!!!


Go Irish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[irishandy]

Welcome to the family Tee!! Great pick up at a needed position for next year.

 

[IrishFBfanatic]

Best cornerback in the class already irish! This is amazing! Welcome aboard Tee, you're going to love it

 

[Rocket's Rocket Fan]

This is awesome! Welcome to ND Tee!