Arkansas Football Countdown: 96 Days

No. 96 is currently unoccupied on the Razorbacks roster, likely to be filled by an incoming freshman. Hog fans can only hope whoever fills the slot does so as capably as Malcolm Sheppard once did.

A relatively unheralded prospect out of Georgia, Sheppard committed to Arkansas as part of the 2006 recruiting class. Listed as a 240-pound defensive tackle at the time, Sheppard grew into a force for the Razorbacks and finished his career as a two-time 2nd-team All-SEC selection.

Sheppard first cracked the starting lineup in 2007, Houston Nutt's final season, spending the majority of his time at end. Though he remained undersized for an interior lineman, Sheppard moved to tackle full time in 2008 and flourished. With a quick first step and a tenacious motor, Sheppard was a bright spot on the defense in Bobby Petrino's first season on The Hill and finished with 6 sacks and 13.5 TFL.

As a captain in 2009, he started all 13 games -- giving him 37 starts in the final 37 games of his career -- and helped lead the Hogs' turnaround season that ended with a Liberty Bowl victory. He finished his career as a two-time 2nd-team All-SEC selection.

After leaving Fayetteville, Sheppard signed as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans in 2010. Later that year he was signed off the Texans' practice squad by the Tennessee Titans, for whom he played in 13 games in 2011.