By: Michael Goss
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State quarterback
Xavier Shepherd was named a STATS Perform FCS First Team All-American after his record-breaking performance this season. The Nashville native was selected at the all-purpose position, which recognizes the best dual-threat athlete on the field. The award comes one week after the quarterback was named a First Team All-American by HERO Sports and a Third Team All-American by the Associated Press.
The signal-caller finished the season 77-for-123 (62.6%) with 1,341 passing yards and 15 touchdowns. He tallied a team-high 1,016 rush yards on 240 attempts and added an FCS-best 23 rushing touchdowns. The quarterback also averaged 10.6 points per game which ranked third in the nation.
Shepherd surpassed multiple school records during his breakout season and became the first KSU quarterback to win 11 of his first 12 starts. The quarterback threw a KSU-record 15 touchdown passes and became the first player in Owl history to toss four touchdown passes in a single game. The sophomore also set a Big South Conference record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a conference game with 179.
The All-American honor adds to the accolades Shepherd has compiled throughout the course of the season. He was selected as the Big South Offensive Player of the Year, was a four-time Big South Player of the Week and three-time FCS National Performer of the Week Honorable Mention. Shepherd was also one of 25 finalists named for the prestigious Walter Payton Award.
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