MOBILE, Ala. – Fort Hays State senior defensive tackle Nathan Shepherd accepted the invitation to compete in the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama on Saturday, January 27, 2018. This is the second collegiate all-star event that Shepherd has been invited to compete in. He will also participate in the NFL Players Association Collegiate Bowl at the Rose Bowl a week earlier on January 20.
The Reese’s Senior Bowl has long been a prestigious all-star game for top professional prospects from the collegiate ranks and holds a critical place on the timeline of the NFL Draft. Over 100 participants from last year’s game are on NFL teams’ payrolls this season. This game is a showcase for prospects aspiring to play at the next level. Shepherd will be the first-ever Fort Hays State player to compete in the event.
The game will air on the NFL Network at 1:30 pm CT on January 27. The game is held in Mobile, Alabama at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The Senior Bowl is a collegiate football all-star game that has been held every year since 1950.
Shepherd concluded his senior year with the Tigers on November 25 when FHSU fell in the second round of the NCAA Division II Playoffs to Ferris State, 31-21. Shepherd earned MIAA Defensive Player of the Year honors, helping the Tigers to an 11-1 overall record, an MIAA Championship, and undefeated regular season. Shepherd finished the season with 38 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and four sacks. He is a three-time All-MIAA selection, earning first team honors this year, second team in 2016, and third team in 2015.