The Recruiting Trail: St. James Wildcats

NOTE: This is the seventh in a series profiling prospects from Louisiana's top football programs. In the last five seasons, St. James has made it to the semifinals or further four times, including making the Class 2A state championship game in 2007.

St. James head coach Rick Gaille cannot remember ever having a kicker prospect. Well, it looks as though that is changing with the Class of 2010 as punter John Shepard appears to have the skill set and big enough leg to get college coaches' attention.

Shepard is one of only two current Wildcat prospects for 2010, the other being standout center Jabari Ambrose.

Shepard plays defensive end and tight end for the Wildcats in addition to punter. He is 6-foot-3, 220 pounds. Gaille said that Shepard has good size and does well on the defensive line, but with some fine-tuning of punting technique he could possibly punt at the next level.

"He is a tall, long legged kid who has the ball skills and athleticism," Gaille said of Shepard, the son of a Wildcats assistant, Daniel Shepard. "He is also a pinter and infielder on the baseball team."

Ambrose is the younger brother of former St. James standout athlete Luther Ambrose, who signed with Louisiana-Monroe two seasons ago. He is the polar opposite to Luther in stature. Jabari is 5-foot-10, 270 pounds. Luther was considered one of the fastest players in the state and perhaps the country, but Jabari does have the athleticism.

"He has been starting since the ninth grade," Gaille said. "He is very solid, has great knowledge of the game, has a work ethic and has great feet. Even at his size he played basketball."

Ambrose' height might keep some of the large colleges away, but there is no doubting his ability.

"We play with what we got and we count on our linemen a lot in the offense we run," Gaille said. "Our best lineman is our center and we ask a lot out of him."