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Shepherd making good impressions

LAS VEGAS - No clear favorites have emerged yet for X'avier Shepherd since his recruitment is just taking off with three offers as the Lakewood, Calif., receiver said he's happy to get noticed by college coaches.
UCLA, Colorado and Oregon State have offered the 6-foot, 175-pound prospect but he's getting interest from Notre Dame, Nebraska, Arizona State, Arizona and Washington and so he's going to take his time to see how things shake out.
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"As of right now I'm just thankful they actually offered and I have the ability and privilege to talk to some of the coaches," Shepherd said. "I'm just trying to reel more in and make sure I have some other options just in case they're not interested anymore.
"I have the D1 offer but I have to go there as a D1 player. I tell myself all the time that I'm never satisfied and I have to keep working.
"UCLA does stand out but I'm actually interested in all three of them. All three have taken the time out to get to know me and I know people from each school. All the coaches show a lot of interest in me and I have good conversations with all of them."
Maybe one of the reasons Shepherd plans to take his time is because he wasn't even the star player at his high school last season. Darius Powe and Malik Gilmore were the top receivers at Lakewood but they've graduated now and so Shepherd takes over.
With that added exposure, Shepherd hopes more schools get interested in him. Based upon his strong performance at the New Level Athletics Elite 7 on 7 this weekend with the 1925 All-Stars it should not be a problem.
"I've been looking forward to it," Shepherd said. "Playing alongside two D1 athletes there is always some kind of competition and me being the smaller guy I had to show I could stand out with those two. When the ball got in my hands I have to take advantage and I do what I have to do. If I have to run, if I have to jump to impress and make people happy and get some touchdowns I'll do what I have to do.
"For next year I'm looking forward to it. A lot of the players at Lakewood have come together and I have some athletes who are going to help me run the team. It's never a one-man show."
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