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The Tuscaloosa News
Jamarcus Shephard wants Alabama receiving corps to ‘compete’ like Julio Jones
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Jamarcus Shephard wants Alabama receiving corps to ‘compete’ like Julio Jones
With Julio Jones in town, Alabama football assistant head coach JaMarcus Shephard is willing to step aside. Maybe even eager.
Over the weekend, the legendary Alabama wide receiver could be seen walking into his old stomping grounds with the team to face Georgia. He debated giving words of wisdom to the men suited up to go to battle, but ultimately retreated, according to Shephard , who also serves the Crimson Tide as co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach.
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"He came to me and said, 'Hey, I was on the verge of saying something to the guys and talking to them … and I refrained from it because I don't want to step on your toes," Shephard said of Jones.
As far as Shephard was concerned, he had played "zero snaps" in the NFL, so who was he to stop a seven-time Pro Bowler from giving advice?
Nov 26, 2010; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide receiver Julio Jones (8) avoids the tackle of Auburn Tiger safety Mike McNeil (26) during the first half at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
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Shephard told Jones, "You're one of the greatest wide receivers that any of them have really ever known."
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"You've earned that right by what you did here at the University of Alabama and what you did in the National Football League," he said. "You would actually be doing me a disservice by not talking to them. So no, you say whatever during the game, after the game, before the game.
"If you want me to be quiet, Julio, you got it."
Only having arrived in Tuscaloosa in February after following Kalen DeBoer from the University of Washington, Shephard admitted he still finds himself getting starstruck by Jones from time to time.
"It was amazing just to meet him for the first time because it's Julio Jones, man. Like, this dude, I've used his film for forever," Shephard said, recalling an old video of a teenaged Jones in a barbershop with then-head coach Nick Saban.
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Saban was informing Jones that four prospects had already committed to the Crimson Tide , but it didn't matter to the latter.
Shephard recited Jones' soliloquy accordingly: "'I don't care how many guys you got in the class … . When you go to Alabama, you go to compete. You ain't got no choice but to compete.'"
He wants that same hunger out of his own receiving corps now, and those to grace Bryant-Denny Stadium in the future.
"Cream rises to the top," Shephard said. "And when you talk about Julio Jones, yeah. That's the cream rising to the top."
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Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Julio Jones advised Alabama football wide receivers before Georgia upset
