Lito Sheppard

Infobox NFLactive


currentteam=Philadelphia Eagles
currentnumber=26
currentposition=Cornerback
birthdate=birth date and age|1981|4|8
birthplace=Jacksonville, Florida
heightft=5
heightin=10
weight=194
debutyear=2002
debutteam=Philadelphia Eagles
college=Florida
draftyear=2002
draftround=1
draftpick=26
pastteams=
* Philadelphia Eagles (2002-present)
status=Active
highlights=
* Second-team "SN" Freshman All-American (1999)
* 2x First-team All-SEC (2000-2001)
* 2x Pro Bowl selection (2004, 2006)
* 2x All-Pro selection (2004, 2006)
statweek=5
statseason=2008
statlabel1=Tackles
statvalue1=240
statlabel2=Sacks
statvalue2=2.0
statlabel3=INTs
statvalue3=17
nfl=SHE556636

Lito Decorian Sheppard (born April 8, 1981 in city-state|Jacksonville|Florida) is an American football cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Eagles 26th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida.

Sheppard has earned two Pro Bowl selections in his career, in 2004 and 2006.

Early years

He attended William M. Raines High School in Jacksonville.

College career

Lito Sheppard played college football at the University of Florida. While there, he was a two time All-American, started 22 games in 3 seasons, recorded 8 interceptions, and had 87 tackles. He also returned 27 kickoffs for 472 yards (22.5 yards per return avg.).

Professional career

Philadelphia Eagles

In the 2002 NFL Draft, Sheppard was selected 26th overall in the 1st round by the Philadelphia Eagles.

In 2004 Lito Sheppard had 5 interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns. He was named Defensive Player of the Month for the month of November after returning two inteceptions for touchdowns. Sheppard was selected to his first Probowl in 2004.

2005 was the first of three injury filled seasons for Sheppard. He missed six games and finished with three interceptions.

On October 8, 2006, Lito became the first player in NFL history to have two interception returns of more than 100 yards. Both returns came against the Dallas Cowboys. (2004 & 2006) The most recent return sealed a 38-24 win over the Cowboys and secured 1st place in the division for the Eagles. (updated: Week 5)

In the Eagles Wild Card playoff game on January 7th against the New York Giants, Sheppard dislocated his elbow. He missed the next playoff game against the Saints, which the Eagles lost 27-24.Despite being injured in the season opener, and missing 3 more games, Sheppard leads the Eagles and is sixth in the NFL with 6 INTs this season.

In a 2007 contest against the Green Bay Packers Sheppard suffered an injury. Sheppard went through another injury filled season and finished with two interceptions.

In the 2008 offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles signed former New England Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel. This fueled speculation that Sheppard was available via trade. That offseason, he changed agents to Drew Rosenhaus.

Personal

Sheppard is the cousin of current Patriots wide receiver Jabar Gaffney who played for the Eagles during the 2006 preseason.

When Sheppard makes an interception in an Eagles home game, the song "Lido Shuffle" by Boz Scaggs is played. He has often been referred to as the "Cowboy Killer," since he often makes interceptions against the Dallas Cowboys, then returning them for a touchdown. In eleven career games, Sheppard has eight interceptions against the Cowboys.

External links

* [http://www.lito26sheppard.com Official Website]
* [http://www.coachdonovan.com/football/bios.php?year=2001&bio=sheppard.html Florida Gators bio]
* [http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/LitoSheppard.html Philadelphia Eagles bio]