KC Chiefs: Darrius Shepherd is excited to play for his favorite team

Darrius Shepherd has been dreaming of this moment for a long time.

As the wide receiver reflected back on a recent minicamp and looks forward to the challenges of training camp in St. Joseph with the Kansas City Chiefs, Shepherd will be able to realize a lifelong dream of playing for the favorite team of his youth.

Shepherd is a K.C. native and attended Blue Springs High School as part of the class of 2014. Then as a 5’11, 170 lb. athlete, Shepherd was a two-time all-state receiver with excellent return skills as well. With a background in track as well, he committed to North Dakota State and went to flourish with the for the Bison.

During his time with NDSU, Shepherd continued to excel as both receiver and returner with over 2,800 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns in his college career to go with an average of 13.1 yards/return on punts including an 84 yard touchdown during his sophomore season.

Darrius Shepherd is excited to have a chance to play for his favorite team.

No one should have ever doubted Shepherd’s ability to succeed given his own athletic ability as well as his bloodlines. His father, Lou, played football at Missouri, and his grandfather, also named Lou, was a basketball star at Missouri State and was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1968.

The 2019 NFL Draft came and went without Shepherd’s name being selected, but every year brings several surprises among rookie free agents, and Shepherd was able to turn heads in a tryout after the draft in Green Bay. Shepherd would go on to make the active roster and shuttle back and forth between the practice squad and game-day roster for the Packers for the next two years as a returner and rarely-used receiver. He was ultimately waived last winter and the Chiefs signed him earlier this month.

At a recent charity softball game featuring other NDSU stars such as Carson Wentz and Easton Stick, Shepherd spoke about the chance to finally play for the Chiefs this offseason.

"“Since I can remember, that’s the only team I rooted for growing up,” Shepherd said. “Some of my favorite players were Dante Hall and Eric Berry among other guys. I was a diehard Chiefs fan until 2019 when I became a Packer. I had to put them away for two years and now I’m back. It’s incredible.”"

Shepherd is going to be easy to root for given his local roots, but he’s going to have to stand out among a crowded depth chart on the roster as the Chiefs have brought in several wideouts hoping to turn heads during the preseason. Some of the other contenders for fringe roster spots include Daurice Fountain, Antonio Callaway, Chad Williams, Maurice Ffrench, Chris Finke, Marcus Kemp, Dalton Schoen, Gehrig Dieter,  and Joe Fortson.

Given his limited time with the Chiefs, it could be a success for Shepherd to turn enough heads to be able to make the Chiefs practice squad and grow into a larger role as the coaches learn to trust him and Shepherd. learns the playbook. If so, he’ll realize a long-held dream to play at Arrowhead Stadium and become a part of a team he’s loved all his life.