Javonne Shepherd names Longhorns leader, other visits

AUSTIN, Tex. – Following the Texas Longhorns most recent prospect camp on Tuesday night, one player in particular stayed just a little longer, running routes and catching passes in the north end zone of the practice fields alongside I-35.

Except this was no wide receiver hopeful for an offer, this was top offensive tackle prospect Javonne Shepherd, and he’s long past having to prove his worthiness for an offer. His visit to Texas was a positive one, but just the start of a tour that is shaping up to include stops at Alabama, Georgia, LSU and Texas A&M.

“Right now, they stand Number One with me, Texas does,” he said. “The coaches are my favorite thing about Texas; the coaching staff.”

That’s a ringing endorsement for the Longhorns, particularly because Shepherd said that the top criteria in his consideration is finding out which staff and team most ‘feels like family’ to him. Such a subjective thing can be difficult to determine who best provides it, so to say one team is a leader draws a clear line in the sand.

Recapping his Texas visit

“The thing that stood out about the visit was talking with Coach Tom Herman,” he said. “After talking to him and all the other coaches, I feel like this might be home; that’s what I’m thinking – it was good … He was more interested in talking about me than just football.”

On Georgia

“The thing I like best with them is the relationship that I have with the coaches and everything,” he said. “They’re not rushing me, saying Javonne! Javonne! Go here! Go here! They’ve just been real calm and are with whatever I’m with.”

On if friend and five-star OL Kenyon Green’s Texas A&M commitment influences his

“That’s his decision,” he said. “My decision is just me. We’re two different people, that’s where he feels best at.”