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THE FACTS: Russell Shepard is a second-year wide receiver out of LSU who led the Buccaneers in special teams tackles in 2014. Shepard was undrafted in 2013 and spent his first training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles, but was cut prior to the start of the regular season. The Buccaneers called the following day and he's been in Tampa ever since. Shepard originally committed to LSU as a quarterback. He widely considered to be the best dual-threat QB in the country as a high school senior in 2009.

Q: You had a great season on special teams. How are you going to look back at 2014?

A: "It was just a great season. I was just happy just to contribute to the team. Looking at the roster during training camp, I was kind of the outside guy looking in. So for me to make the opening day roster and, throughout the season, be able to contribute on special teams and to the offense here and there, I really enjoyed it."

Q: Did you have any previous experience playing special teams?

A: "I did my last year at LSU and I hated it but a lot of people don't realize – I played in a talented receiver room. My last two years of college I had 13, 14 catches. I played with Odell Beckham, who starts in the NFL. I played with Rueben Randle, who starts in the NFL. I played with Jarvis Landry, who starts in the NFL. I learned sometimes you have to be able to play special teams just to contribute to the team."

Q: You're a wide receiver now, but you were a really talented quarterback in high school. How did you end up playing receiver?

A: "Yeah, a lot of schools recruited me as a quarterback or athlete or whatever. I had a few schools that definitely wanted me to play quarterback. Midway throughout my freshman year of college, the other two quarterbacks I was competing with... we were all a year apart and they were just as talented. I thought about my future, the NFL, I thought I was probably going to be that guy that changes positions. So I thought it was best for me to change before going into my sophomore season. My sophomore year I played a lot of running back and I played some Wildcat quarterback and then my junior year I played all receiver. My senior year I played a little receiver but a lot of running back and special teams."