Torch Passed El Dorado QB follows family path
Every high school quarterback has hundreds of critics analyzing his every move each Friday night. For El Dorado's Eli Shepherd, the fans in the stands might offer better reviews than when he gets home.
Shepherd is the third Wildcat quarterback in the family, following father Matthew Shepherd and Uncle John Thomas Shepherd. His grandfather, Bobby Shepherd, was also a high school football player, an offensive and defensive lineman at Arkadelphia.
“Football is probably discussed every other conversation especially when my grandad, dad and John Thomas are together,” said Eli, who was asked whose advice he felt was the best. “I would have to say my dad, John Thomas, and my grandad are all equal in terms of advice.”
Spoken like a politician, which, of course, runs in the family, too. His father is the Speaker of the Arkansas House of Representatives. His grandfather is a United States Circuit Judge and his uncle is the prosecutor for the 13th Judicial District.
As far as the football is concerned, Eli said having quarterbacks in the family is all good.
“Well the benefit of being the third one is all the advice I get from them and all the game experience they have,” he said.
“But I've never felt pressure to be good because of my family.”
No, the pressure to succeed could come from being a senior at El Dorado, which went 4-7 a year ago and had its lowest win total since 2006, when it went 3-7.
Eli Shepherd doesn't need a family member or a fan in the stands to tell him if that's acceptable.
“As far as goals for the season, any time a team from El Dorado is getting ready to play they are getting ready to make a run at the state championship and this year isn't any different,” he said. “As far as goals for myself, I just want to help my team win games and enjoy my last go around with my teammates.”