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Alabama football has a new wide receivers coach who is ready to bring explosive production back to the position.

JaMarcus Shephard came from Washington with Kalen DeBoer to be on his staff with the Crimson Tide.

RELATED: REPORT: CAROLINA PANTHERS PAIR BRYCE YOUNG WITH NEW HEAD COACH
The 40-year-old was a wide receiver at DePaux, a Division III program in college football from 2001 to 2004. Shephard started his coaching career at the high school ranks before moving up to Western Kentucky. He began as a defensive assistant for the Hilltoppers before becoming an offensive quality control coach, wide receivers coach, and special teams coach. Shephard coached receivers from 2014 to 2015 at Western Kentucky, producing a 1,000+ yard receiver (Taiwan Taylor, 1,467 yards) in 2015 and eight receivers that caught 40+ passes. He mentored inside wide receivers at Washington State under Mike Leach in 2016.

Six players caught 30+ passes that year, including Gabe Marks who led the Cougars with 89 receptions (13 for touchdowns).

Shephard went to the Big Ten in 2017 to be the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator for Purdue. He also became a co-offensive coordinator for the Boilermakers from 2018 to 2021. Sixteen players across four years under Shephard caught 30+ passes, including Rondale Moore, who had 114 receptions as a freshman in 2018. In his two seasons at Washington (2022-23), Shephard was an assistant head coach, wide receivers coach, and passing game coordinator. The Huskies had two receivers produce 1,000+ yards in back-to-back years. Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan did it in 2022 while Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk recorded 1,000+ yards receiving in 2023. Shephard updated his social media to “Wide Receivers Coach” for the Crimson Tide.

He played a huge role in getting five-star receiver Ryan Williams to recommit to Alabama.

Shephard will have several receivers to coach up and develop. Alabama fans are excited to see what he does with this group.

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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.

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ALABAMA IN THE PROSREPORT: Carolina Panthers pair Bryce Young with new head coach

By Patrick Dowd Posted on January 25, 2024Tampa Bay Buccaneers OC Dave Canales named the new HC for Bryce Young and the Carolina PanthersMANDATORY CREDIT: KIM KLEMENT-USA TODAY SPORTS

The search for a new head coach in Carolina is over as the Panthers agreed to a deal with Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales.

Canales, 42, will be tasked with getting No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young back on track as the future of the franchise after a disastrous rookie season under previous head coach Frank Reich.

Canales spent one season as an offensive coordinator but has a total of 14 years of experience in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks under legendary head coach Pete Carroll. While in Seattle Canales has had roles as a wide receivers coach, passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach before leaving for Tampa Bay in 2023.

Although his experience is slim in a play-calling role, Canales proved he could revive a former first-overall quarterback which he did with Baker Mayfield this past season. After a disastrous season spent with both the Panthers and Los Angeles Rams, Mayfield found his way to Tampa with Canales where he helped the former Oklahoma quarterback to the best season of his career passing for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns while leading the team to the playoffs.

In his final year with Seattle, Canales was also the quarterbacks coach for Geno Smith who also had the best season of his career after taking over for Russell Wilson which also resulted in a playoff appearance.

Getting Young back on track will be the top priority for Canales but the next step will be for new general manager Dan Morgan, who also worked with Canales in Seattle, to surround the Heisman Trophy winner with enough talent to succeed.

*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our subscriber only content!*

Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77

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ALABAMA FOOTBALL PLAYER REACTIONSCurrent Alabama players react to Crimson Tide landing commitment from 4-star edge rusher

By Stephen M. Smith Posted on January 25, 2024Noah CarterPHOTO COMES VIA SOCIAL MEDIA

Kalen DeBoer is showing the nation he can recruit at the University of Alabama.

He landed a commitment from a 4-star edge rusher in Noah Carter from Arizona.

RELATED: FORMER, CURRENT ALABAMA PLAYERS REACT TO RYAN WILLIAMS RE-COMMITTING
BREAKING: 4-Star Edge Noah Carter @3noahcarter commits to Alabama.

Carter is one of the most athletic edge-rushers in the country at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds. pic.twitter.com/lO4h2NNMdG

— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) January 25, 2024

The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder is a product of Centennial High School. Carter joins five-star wide receiver Ryan Williams as the second player to commit to the Crimson Tide in the DeBoer era for 2024. Several current Tide players reacted on social media to Carter’s decision to commit to Alabama. Carter is excited to be a part of the Alabama program to become a marquee players.

*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our subscriber-only content!*

Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.

Facebook Comments

This article is also published as a forum topic here »
RELATED ITEMS:HEADLINE
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
dyllon williamsDemopolis 2025 DB Dyllon Wiliams earns first SEC offer, set to earn moreAlabama fans cheer on the Crimson Tide in Bryant-Denny StadiumAlabama hires Director of Recruiting StrategyFormer Washington DB Jabbar Muhammad announces transfer destination
Alabama fans react to Crimson Tide getting a 4-star edge rusher to commit for 2024 class
REPORT: Carolina Panthers pair Bryce Young with new head coach