FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – Nathan Shepherd could go from playing Division II football to starting at defensive end as a rookie for the Jets.
Shepherd has flown under the radar as other rookies, namely Sam Darnold and speedy, evasive back Trenton Cannon, have garnered more attention. But the third-round pick has been playing end with the first team defense and is listed a starter on the team’s unofficial depth chart.
His size – Shepherd is 6-foot-4, 315 pounds – has helped put him in a position to start where Muhammed Wilkerson once did. But Shepherd’s mentality and approach also have had a major impact.