| Profile | |
|---|---|
| Position | Running back |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1957-04-24)April 24, 1957 (age 68) La Grange, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| College | Liberty University Livingston University |
| Career history | |
| 1983–86 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| 1987 | Buffalo Bills |
| 1988 | New York Knights |
| Awards and highlights | |
| |
| Stats atPro Football Reference | |
Johnny Shepherd (born April 24, 1957) was an American starcollege footballrunning back and the Rookie of the Year in theCanadian Football League (CFL).
Shepherd started hiscollege career atLiberty University, where he was the team leading rusher in 1978 with 529 yards. He moved toLivingston University (now The University of West Alabama), where he was named Honorable MentionAll-American in 1982, All-Gulf South Conference in 1981 and 1982 and is a member of UWA's Team of the Decade from the 1980s. He still sits atop the UWA career rushing chart with 2,057 yards on 387 carries and holds the career per-rush average (5.32). He also scored 26 rushing touchdowns in his career and scored 156 points. He owns the single-season record for rushing touchdowns with 13, rushing yards with 955, touchdowns scored with 15 and rushing attempts with 183. He also owns the single-game rushing record of 189 yards versusTennessee-Martin in 1982. He was inducted into the UWA Hall of Fame in 1997.
Undrafted by theNational Football League, Shepherd headed to theCanadian Football League in 1983, where he played with theHamilton Tiger-Cats. Rushing for 1069 yards in his first season, he was anall-star and winner of theCFL's Most Outstanding Rookie Award. He played for two more seasons, but was hampered by injuries. Most notably, he scored a touchdown in 1985's73rd Grey Cup, when Hamilton lost to theB.C. Lions.
In 1987, he played 2 games for theBuffalo Bills, as astrike replacement player, rushing 12 times for 42 yards and catching one pass. He finished his career in theArena Football League, with theNew York Knights in 1988, rushing 24 times for 85 yards, catching one pass, scoring 5 touchdowns, and making 29 tackles.
Shepherd now lives inGarner, North Carolina with his wife and two daughters Kanita and Jaraea