Draft:Ja'Quan Sheppard

Ja'Quan Sheppard (born April 2, 2000) is an American football defensive back for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Maryland and Cincinnati.

Early life and high school
Sheppard grew up in Zephyrhills, Florida and attended Zephyrhills High School. In his high school career, Sheppard completed 66 total tackles (42 solo and 24 assisted), 1.5 tackles per game and 1.0 tackles for loss. Sheppard would also complete six interceptions for eight yard, averaging 1.3 interceptions per game, 21 pass breakups and a fumble recovery for one yard, while playing in a total of 44 games. He was a three-star rated recruit and committed to play college football at the University of Cincinnati over offers from Kentucky, Marshall, UMass, NC State, Samford, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Temple, Tennessee State, Toledo, Troy, Tulane, USF, Western Kentucky and Western Michigan.

Cincinnati
During Sheppard's true freshman season in 2019, he played in nine games while mostly being on special teams. He finished the season with six total tackles (four solo and two assisted). During the 2020 season, he played in eight games as a special teamer and defensive back reserve. He finished the season with five total tackles (four solo and one assisted) and one tackle for loss for one yard. During the 2021 season, he appeared in nine games while on special teams and as a backup defensive back. He finished the season with three total tackles (two solo and one assisted). During the 2022 season, he played in 12 games, finishing the season with 50 total tackles (33 solo and 17 assisted), 4.5 tackles for loss for 16 yards, one sack for 13 yards and 10 pass breakups.

On December 5, 2022, he announced that he would enter the transfer portal.

Maryland
On December 11, 2022, Sheppard announced that he would transfer to Maryland.

During the 2023 season, he played in and started all 13 games, finishing the season with 31 total tackles (28 solo and three assisted), three tackles for loss for 14 yards, one sack for seven yards and eight pass breakups.

Professional career
After not being selected in the 2024 NFL draft, Sheppard signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2024.