Ole Miss' Tee Shepard to transfer to Miami (Ohio)
OXFORD - Cornerback Tee Shepard intends to transfer from Ole Miss to Miami (Ohio).
The junior is scheduled to complete his degree at Ole Miss this semester and be immediately eligible to play at Miami (Ohio) this fall, which will be his final season of eligibility. The Rebels kept Shepard on scholarship after he left the team in October.
“Chuck Martin is the only coach in the country I can try to play my last year with,” Shepard told 247Sports’ Lars Hanson, referring to Miami’s (Ohio) head coach. “He recruited me out of high school when he was at Notre Dame at the time. It’s been over four years coming.
“He’s a great guy, his family means a lot to me as well. His sweet wife and his son and daughter. He loves to help kids get back on their feet. It’s never about the money. He actually loves doing his job. His coaching style is on another (level) from the rest of the coaches. He’s a player’s coach – loves to spend time with his players on and off the field.”
The RedHawks went 3-9 and 2-6 in MAC play in 2015, finishing sixth in their division.
Two other members of Ole Miss' 2015 team have decided to transfer. Quarterback DeVante Kincade and wide receiver Collins Moore are heading to Grambling State and Alcorn State, respectively.
Shepard signed with Ole Miss as a member of the 2014 recruiting class out of Holmes Community College. He was ranked as a four-star recruit, the No. 1 cornerback and the No. 18 juco player overall, according to 247Sports’ Composite Rating.
Rebels CB Tee Shepard leaves program
Shepard upset following departure from football team
A torn toe tendon forced him to miss the 2014 season. He appeared in five games in 2015, collecting two tackles and one pass breakup while behind cornerbacks Tony Bridges and Kendarius Webster on the team’s depth chart.
“The injuries and challenges I have overcome the last few years have taken away my love for playing the game of football,” Shepard said in a news release in October. “I will always love this team and cheer them on as they compete for a championship. I want to especially thank (Rebels head) Coach (Hugh) Freeze for showing me what unconditional love is like.”
Contact Daniel Paulling at dpaulling@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @DanielPaulling on Twitter.