Kansas defensive back JaCorey Shepherd runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Monday, Feb. 23, 2015, in Indianapolis.

Former Kansas University cornerback JaCorey Shepherd on Monday at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis did not have the same kind of breakout day his former teammate Ben Heeney did a day earlier.

But at least part of that was by choice, as Shepherd chose to sit out of the on-field drills because of an aggravated hamstring that kept him out of the Senior Bowl earlier this year and out of testing Monday.

Shepherd, who went through all of the other elements of the combine — orientation, measurements, interviews with teams, etc. — did participate in the bench press and recorded 14 reps at 225 pounds. Despite not being able to show the dozens of NFL coaches, scouts and front office reps in attendance what he could do, Shepherd said just being at the combine was worthwhile.

“It was a great experience,” Shepherd told the Journal-World on Monday night. “I have been grinding for that moment my whole life, and to be a part of it meant the world to me.”

Shepherd’s next chance to prove himself will come in late March at KU’s pro timing day in Lawrence, and the confident wide-receiver-turned-cornerback has no doubts he’ll be ready to roll by then.

“Just being there watching those guys compete made me that much hungrier,” Shepherd said. “Honestly, it was hard to swallow my pride and sit there on the side and not jump out there. But doing what’s best for me overall is the most important thing, and I believe I’m going to make some noise at pro day and prove that I’m one of the top corners in the country as I showed on film this year.”