Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Russell Shepard
is an exception to general  requirements, not a replacement of them.  There may well be professional athletes that would not meet general notability requirements, see Keith Cash and Kerry Cash but they get in despite no references or reliable sources other than them having played in the NFL.  Conversely, there are athletes who do not meet  but do get in under general notability standards.  See Brian Orakpo and Colt McCoy as examples of athletes who have not played at the professional level but have garnered enough notability at the college level to be included.  Shepard seems to be one of those who has reached general notability standards even in high school.  Sergio Kindle is such a player.  Sometimes these players don't make it to the pros, see Robert Strait sometimes they do, see Adrian L. Peterson
— User:2008Olympian, 12:16, 14 December 2008 (UTC)
Stance: keep
Cited policy: WP:N||WP:ATHLETE (Wikipedia:Notability)