Over the past month, new Syracuse head coach Dino Babers has dismissed three of the defensive ends he inherited. This weekend, one of those on the receiving end of Baber’s boot will take a peek at what could potentially be his new football home.
In a conversation with the Syracuse Post-Standard, Qaadir Sheppard confirmed that he will be visiting Ole Miss this weekend as he looks to move on from his brief -- and up-and-down -- time with the Orange. Should Sheppard land with the Rebels, or any other FBS program for that matter, he would be forced to sit out the 2016 season. Then, beginning in 2017, the end would have three years of eligibility remaining.
Sheppard was a three-star member of the Orange’s 2015 recruiting class, rated as the No. 4 player at any position in the state of New York. Coming out of high school as an outside linebacker, Sheppard held offers from, among others, Boston College, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Virginia.
As a true freshman last season, Sheppard played in nine games. However, he reportedly failed two drug tests and was suspended for the last two games of 2015 as well as the first four of 2016. That four-game suspension will not carry over to his new home.
In early February, Sheppard was dismissed for the vague “violation of unspecified team rules.”