KU’s Shepherd to pick up another award

Kansas cornerback JaCorey Shepherd jumps on the back of Duke running back Josh Snead after a catch during second quarter on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2013 at Wallace Wade Stadium in Durham, North Carolina.

Kansas University senior JaCorey Shepherd has gone all over the country to collect awards, both for his ability and production as a football player and efforts and service as a member of the community.

Saturday afternoon, the Mesquite, Texas, native who earned first-team all-Big 12 honors last season, will pick up some more hardware right here in Lawrence.

Shepherd, a three-time academic all-Big 12 honoree, finalist for the Senior CLASS Award and Lee Roy Selmon Community Spirit Award winner, will be presented with the Haier Achievement Award during a first-half timeout at the KU men’s basketball team’s noon showdown with 16th-ranked Baylor at Allen Fieldhouse.

Shepherd, who has spent most of his life aspiring to help others, made a name for himself off the field for his work with the Douglas County chapter of Big Brothers and Big Sisters and also through various other community outreach events.

The Haier award, given to eight student-athletes from around the country who, “are reaching incredible heights in their non-athletic endeavors and serving as role models for all young people,” may be the highest honor of all of them and Shepherd, who is busy preparing for next week’s NFL Combine in Indianapolis, said he was incredibly honored to be chosen for yet another character award.

“During my Jayhawk career it has been very important to me to be as well-rounded of a student-athlete as I could be and to be recognized for my efforts is very humbling,” he said. “I am proud to represent Kansas football both on and off the field and would like to share this award with my teammates who have supported me throughout my time at KU.”

Shepherd will receive a plaque and certificate during Saturday’s game, and Haier will donate $2,000 to KU’s general scholarship fund and gift a Haier 48-inch LED HD television to the school’s athletic department.

“We are excited to recognize inspiring student-athletes like JaCorey to further motivate other young people to achieve and succeed beyond their chosen sport,” said John Homlish, senior vice president, Digital Living Business Unit for Haier America. “We commend JaCorey on all he has accomplished on the field, in the classroom and in his community.”

Football February

After two appearances in Lawrence to kick off the month, first-year KU coach David Beaty headed west for a meet-and-greet with Jayhawk fans in other parts of Kansas.

On Thursday, Beaty and members of his coaching staff and the KU athletic department were at Smoky Hill Country Club in Hays and Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson looking to drum up support for the Jayhawks for the 2015 season. Judging by the response the appearances received on Twitter, Beaty was successful in doing just that.

“Just met Coach Beaty and I am officially fired up for KU football again,” read one Tweet. “What an energetic personality,” read another. “He is the right man for the job.”

Beaty’s tour of the state will continue next week with appearances in Topeka (5-7 p.m. Ramada Inn on Tuesday) and Kansas City, Kansas (5-7 p.m., Sporting Park on Thursday) before wrapping up on Feb. 26 at Larry Bud’s in Wichita. After that, it’ll be time to make final preparations for spring practices, which will begin sometime in late March after spring break.

Recruiting rolls on

Although the ink was barely dry on the letters of intent they received on Feb. 4 from the 2015 recruiting class, the KU coaching staff quickly plowed forward and put its focus on the Class of 2016 in the days that followed.

JayhawkSlant.com reported Wednesday night that Beaty and company already had sent out 30 offers to athletes in next year’s class, and the KU coach said on signing day that he was looking forward to having more than six weeks to search for talent needed to help KU rebuild.

“(It will be great) next year, when we can completely focus on just the football players (and) improving,” said Beaty, referencing that getting settled in his new job and hiring a coaching staff both made it tough to devote complete attention to recruiting. “There’s a lot going on there. Is it challenging? Yeah. But I’m going to tell you, the hardest part was the funnest day of my life. It was awesome.”