Last summer, in the most important offseason of his career, El Dorado quarterback Eli Shepherd was told by COVID restrictions that he couldn’t meet with his team. The summer 7-on-7 camps and competitions were scrapped. Meetings were virtual.
Still, working out on his own, Shepherd entered the football season ready for his best year, yet.
Shepherd would throw for 1,477 yards and 13 touchdowns, playing through a shoulder injury sustained during the preseason benefit game. It was a difficult season, which ended with the Wildcats advancing to the state playoffs.
“The injury was tough because throughout the pandemic I really tried to get my arm strength up and I had gotten it significantly stronger,” Shepherd said. “Then the injury just took all my strength away. It was tough because I had to really put everything I had into a short 10-15 yard pass. And then some games it would pop in and out and cause pain and make it very hard to throw. But I think overall I benefited from the experience in that I had to improve in other areas to make up for my arm not being what I was used to.”
Shepherd’s arm strength faded as the injury worsened. He didn’t allow that to affect his work in the classroom, however. He graduated with a 3.9 grade point average.
Shepherd will attend Louisiana Tech and study biology. He will also be a walk-on quarterback for the Bulldogs.
“As far as career goals I would like to either become a football coach or go to med school to become a Family Practice Doctor,” he said.
The injury shot down Shepherd’s plans of playing soccer in the spring after hampering his football season. The pandemic was a problem both athletically and academically. The Wildcats had two games canceled due to the pandemic and, each Friday night was a question mark.
“It was definitely challenging not knowing if we would be able to play all of our games but at the same time it made us seniors really appreciate each game more because we never knew if we would be able to play again,” Shepherd said.
Academically?
“Last year when they sent us home it was definitely difficult for me to me to focus but I got through and this year I was able to go in person, so it was pretty much back to normal.”
There wasn’t anything normal about the football season. Shepherd, after missing the season opener, piled up yards through the air, hooking up with one of the best receiving tandems in the state in Jackie Washington and DeAndra Burns, Jr. He completed 120-of-191 attempts with 13 touchdowns and just six interceptions.
Shepherd’s passing was altered due to the injury, however. An injury that was kept secret until after the season.
“I don’t really remember there ever being a conversation about not going public with it,” he said. “I didn’t really want to tell anyone because I didn’t want another team to know that I was hurt.”
Overall, Shepherd said he was pleased to make it through a difficult senior year. With all the hurdles cleared, he hopes will make him stronger in the longer run.
“I am just glad that we got to have a somewhat normal year in the midst of all this,” he said. “And I’m especially thankful that we got to do the big events like academic signing and graduation.”