ORONO — Before Sterling Sheffield could find a college home, he had to commit to one on the football field.
As a high school player in New Jersey, he was at various times a quarterback, wide receiver and tight end on offense, and a defensive end, linebacker and safety on defense.
“It was hard to actually find what position fits best,” Sheffield said Tuesday. “My dad (Adrian) used to tell me all the time it’s a gift and it’s a curse for being versatile. The gift is you’re able to play different positions; the curse is being able to have the coach understand what position’s good for you, and being able to master that position.”
Sheffield is showing some early mastery as a freshman linebacker at Maine, starting with the opening kickoff of the season and continuing through his first career sack Saturday, which resulted in a fumble and a Black Bear touchdown that sealed a 23-10 victory over Stony Brook.
“He got our attention early in camp,” Coach Jack Cosgrove said. “He’s a smart kid and he’s got ability, he can run. He’s easy to coach; he picks things up easy.
“He’s never made us put the stop sign up.”
Sheffield has 12 tackles, one interception and that forced fumble in his first seven games for Maine (3-4, 3-1 Colonial Athletic Association). He will continue his education Saturday when the Black Bears visit Villanova (3-4, 2-2), a team that has surrendered a league-high 22 sacks.
Sheffield, who stands 6-foot-2, 220 pounds, was recruited by several universities growing up in Mullica Hill, New Jersey. West Virginia had interest in him as a quarterback, before he gave that position up after his sophomore season when he transferred to Clearview Region High. Boston College, Rutgers and Penn State took looks. So did Maine’s CAA rival, Albany.
None of them followed through with scholarship offers.
So yes, the fact that Sheffield blasted through a couple of BC blockers on the opening kickoff of the season was particularly gratifying.
“It was a little something about that, but I was just trying to do my job. I was really excited,” he said.
“That was a great way to start off my collegiate career.”
And there was a little extra adrenaline two Saturdays ago when Sheffield got his first interception, at Albany. On that first-quarter play, Sheffield shadowed a wide receiver on an out pattern.
“Then I see his eyes light up and I turn around and the ball’s coming right to me,” said Sheffield, who cradled the football at the Albany 36 to set up a Black Bears touchdown in an eventual 39-7 victory.
“I have a little bad vibe with Albany. Anybody would be frustrated by that situation. But being able to show them that they (didn’t make) the right choice felt good.”
Against Stony Brook, Sheffield showed the maturity and playmaking ability that has earned him so much trust from the Maine coaches.
The Seawolves were trailing just 13-10 in the fourth quarter when Sheffield recognized a formation that had been used earlier.
On that play, both Sheffield and Randy Samuels didn’t notice in time to check into a new formation. This time Sheffield was able to nudge his senior counterpart, and they took off after quarterback Conor Bednarski. Sheffield plowed through a running back and got a hand on Bednarski’s shoulder before Bednarski could release the football. It flew to Trevor Bates, who returned it for a touchdown.
“I could have four (sacks) right now,” Sheffield muttered, as if to himself. “I’m always there but it just never happened until that time. I was so happy for Trevor.”
Adrian Sheffield, who played tight end and linebacker at Howard University, has been enjoying his son’s quick rise. They used to watch game film together, critiquing the linebackers.
“Every day my dad tells me how proud he is of me,” Sterling Sheffield said. “He’s loving every single second of it. He’s been to every game.
“When I get a text from my dad saying he’s here, it makes me feel confident, but it makes me feel together, at home.”
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