Lacey Bearden

Sports Writer

lbearden@valdosta.edu

Sherard Reynolds has been an essential star to the Blazer football team for the past three years.     If there is a big play on defense, Reynolds is a part of it. Reynolds as well as the coaches, see his fourth year with the Blazers looking no different.
Reynolds is attempting to become the second three-time All- American in school history. He originally joined VSU as a wide receiver in 2005 after graduating from Colquitt County High School in Moultrie, Ga.
Reynolds says the best part about being at VSU is winning.
“Being part of the Blazer family is like a second family to me,” said the senior Mass Media major who plans to coach football upon graduation. The NFL is a real possibility, however.
Reynolds was a part of the 2007 National Championship win, last December, in Florence, Ala.
“(Winning a National Championship is) the best feeling I have ever had. I couldn’t believe it at the time,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds was named a captain of the 2008 team as well as an All-Conference and All-American player in the 2006 and 2007 seasons.
“When I joined the staff at Valdosta State, Coach (Joe) Cauthen, our Defensive Coordinator, told me about the outstanding play-making ability of Sherard. That held to be completely true,” Maurice Linguist, first-year defensive backs, coach said.
“What makes Sherard a great player is his outstanding knack for always being around the football. He is a very intelligent and instinctive player, and he is always aware of the situation,” said Linguist.
Linguist believes that games are won Monday through Friday at practice, and Saturday is just a chance to showcase what the players have been doing all week. Linguist feels that Sherard practices the way he plays and that is evident each week.             Reynolds is more than just an extraordinary athlete.
“What impresses me the most about Sherard is the positive attitude that he consistently carries to practice and meetings,” Linquist said.
“I’ve been around few players that produce the way he produces on the football field, yet have such a small ego to go along with it. More times than not, with many players it’s the exact opposite,” Linguist said.