Mesquite ISD

John Horn High School

Class of 2011

Meet JaCorey Shepherd, Class of 2011 Dr. John D. Horn High School graduate and current owner and head trainer at ShepUp Performance Center in Rockwall, Texas. Shepherd was an All-State wide receiver for the Jags and went on to play football at the University of Kansas and was drafted into the NFL in 2015.

JaCorey’s Academic and Professional Journey 

Shepherd was a star athlete for the Jaguars during his high school career, earning awards and recognitions such as First Academic Team and All-State receiver. Despite excelling on the field, he says he learned early on that “earning awards was not enough to succeed in life and I wanted more.” 

Shepherd earned a Bachelor's of Business Management and Leadership with a minor in Entrepreneurship from the University of Kansas while he continued to play football. During his college football career, he was a two-time Big 12 All-Academic Player and a two-time Big 12 All-Conference First Team. Shepherd was always looking for ways to give back to his community. When he was not playing football or studying, he was mentoring children through the Big Brother Big Sister program.  

In 2015, Shepherd was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the NFL Draft. During his NFL career, he also played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

From NFL Player to Business Owner  

After retiring from the NFL, Shepherd turned his passion into a business by opening ShepUp Performance Center, a training facility in Rockwall. As a trainer, Shepherd focuses on helping other athletes develop their minds and body. “Whether a young athlete is chasing their dream of becoming a pro, a D1 player, or an adult looking to start or continue their fitness journey, all are welcome.” 

Shepherd says his passion is not only training young athletes to be stronger and faster but also to be responsible, accountable, and confident individuals.

Advice from JaCorey to Current Students 

“Everything starts with a thought, so think of greatness when you think of YOU!”