1st Rd: CB Lito Sheppard - April 20, 2002

LITO SHEPPARD, CB
Rd:1 (26th Overall)
School: University of Florida
Ht: 5-10 | Wt: 194

SCOUTING REPORT:
Exceptionally quick athlete who has outstanding range in deep coverage...Explosive out of his cuts, showing a strong drive on the ball...Excels in press coverage and is very effective coming up to jam the receivers at the line of scrimmage...Very smooth in the turn-&-run and positions himself well in run support...Reacts quickly to receivers’ cuts, adjusting fluidly to the ball in deep coverage...Fluid in his movements, coming out fluidly from his backpedal...Fights off blocks and has a knack for getting his hands in the receiver’s face to prevent the catch...Has the body control and turning motion to quickly redirect to the ball…Explosive return specialist who shows no hesitation in his movements heading upfield…Patiently waits for his blocks to develop on returns …

A true junior, he is regarded as one of the nation's premier cornerbacks and punt returners… He has started 22 of the 34 games he’s appeared in, twice earning All-American honors…He became only the fourth sophomore in school annals to earn first-team All-American honors (2000 by the Football Writers Association of America)…He finished his career with 87 tackles (64 solos), 13 pass deflections and eight interceptions…He also has never allowed a touchdown reception in his time as a Gator…Returned 21 kickoffs for 472 yards (22.5 avg) and 49 punts for 559 yards (11.4 avg) with a pair of touchdowns…Only Ricky Nattiel (589, 1983-86), Ivory Curry (631, 1980-82) and Jacquez Green (766, 1995-97) gained more yards via punt returns in school history.

2001 SEASON:
All-American first-team selection by the National Sports Bureau, adding second-team honors from The Sporting News…Consensus All-Southeastern Conference first-team choice…Started every game at left cornerback, participating in 702 plays…Recorded a career-high 42 tackles (29 solos) with two stops for losses of 4 yards…Deflected six passes and intercepted two others for 7 yards in returns…Added 246 yards on 26 punt returns (9.5 avg) and 171 yards on seven kickoff returns (24.4 avg).

Marshall, Louisiana State and Florida State…Made 4 tackles in each game… Louisiana-Monroe…Deflected a pass and returned 6 punts for 64 yards… Kentucky…Made 3 solo tackles, including 2 stops behind the line of scrimmage and deflected a pass… Mississippi State…Recorded 5 tackles… Auburn…Had 6 solo tackles and 3 punt returns for 29 yards… Georgia…Gained 54 yards on 6 punt returns, posted 6 tackles, deflected a pass and had an interception… Tennessee…Collected 4 tackles with an interception… Maryland (Orange Bowl)…Had 2 pass break-ups and an assisted tackle.

2000 SEASON:
First-team All-American selection by the Football Writers Association, becoming only the fourth sophomore in UF history to gain first-team All-American recognition…Second-team All-American choice by The Sporting News and ABC Sports…First-team All-SEC by The Sporting News and the Associated Press…Started 11 of 12 regular-season games for 609 snaps…Recorded 40 tackles (30 solos) with two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery…Deflected five passes and led the team with six interceptions for 179 yards in returns, including a touchdown… Added 2 solo tackles on special teams…Led the squad in punt returns with 22 for 307 yards (14.0 avg) and ranked third in all purpose yardage (831 yards, 69.3 ypg)… Ranked first in the SEC and 17th in the nation with a punt return average of 14.0 and returned two for touchdowns.

Ball State…Caused a fumble and returned an interception 40 yards… Middle Tennessee…Had a 54-yard punt return for a touchdown and 3 tackles… Tennessee…Posted a season-high 7 tackles (5 solos) as he batted away 2 passes and returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown… Kentucky…Picked off a pass and posted 4 tackles… Mississippi State…Recovered a fumble and made 4 tackles… Auburn…Caused a fumble to set up a score… Georgia…Made 3 solo tackles and returned an interception 61 yards… Vanderbilt…Saw action on offense with a 47-yard reception, deflected a pass and made 3 tackles…

South Carolina…Returned a punt 57 yards for a touchdown and posted 4 tackles… Florida State…Registered 5 solo tackles and batted away a pass… Auburn (SEC Championship)…Credited with 2 interceptions, a pass break-up and 4 tackles (3 solos)… Miami (Sugar Bowl)…Collected 7 tackles, including 2 stops behind the line of scrimmage and intercepted a Ken Dorsey pass.

1999 SEASON:
The Sporting News named him a second-team Freshman All-American...One of two true freshmen who saw time in the secondary...Played in 11 of 12 games for 203 plays...Recorded 5 solo tackles…Caused and recovered a fumble…Blocked a kick and deflected two passes…Made 4 tackles on special teams…Returned a punt 6 yards and a kickoff 3 yards.

PERSONAL:
Sociology major…Son of LaQuita Allen and Herbert Tollerson…Has volunteered in the community, including with the sheriff's department "Paint the Town" project...Cousin is All-American receiver and teammate, Jabar Gaffney…Jabar’s father is Derrick Gaffney, who played wide receiver at UF and with the New York Jets and was on the receiving end of the longest pass play in Gator history (a 99-yarder from Chris Collinsworth vs. Rice in 1979)…Uncle, Don Gaffney, was a quarterback at UF in the 1970s and uncles Johnny and Warren Gaffney also played for the Gators…Born Lito Decorian Sheppard on 4/08/81 in Jacksonville, Florida.