Sherley you can't be serious

Senior safety has persevered to become a standout player, leader

By Jeffrey Christian
The Collegian

WHEN TALKING TO FRESNO State free safety Josh Sherley it’s hard to imagine his actions on the football field.

The senior has a calm, almost spiritual demeanor to his personality and although his voice on the field is sometimes quiet, his play certainly is not.

Sherley has been labeled by some as being “pound for pound” the hardest hitter on the football team, and while causing pain to opposing players who dare come across the middle is his job, you aren’t likely see him in the player’s face bragging about it afterwards.

“It has been really cool to earn that title because I always pride myself on a quote that Coach Hill always says, which is, ‘your actions speak so loudly, I can’t hear what you’re saying.’ That’s the way I try to model my life. I’m not much of a talker or an outgoing person, but I let my play or the things that I do show more than my talking,” Sherley said.

Despite being soft-spoken, Sherley has developed into a key leader for the Bulldogs secondary this season.

“I’ve definitely been a little more vocal this year but mainly my biggest thing is leading by example,” Sherley said.

Sherley and senior cornerback Marcus McCauley have provided veteran experience for a Bulldogs defensive backfield that lost two players from last year’s team to the NFL.

“Sherley’s really prepared all the time and he’s really funny but quiet. He’s got a certain sound that he makes when he’s trying to pump people up, but I’m not sure what it is,” senior cornerback McCauley said.

The Bulldogs replaced their losses in the secondary with first-year starters, Damon Jenkins and Vincent Mays. Sherley’s quiet leadership and work ethic have been vital in providing confidence to the inexperienced players in the Bulldogs defensive backfield.

“It gives them more confidence having someone like Josh who’s been through it,” McCauley said.

In addition to the physical and mental challenges that Sherley must meet on the field, there are also commitments to be fulfilled off the field as well. The 22-year-old senior met his wife at Fresno State and the two have been married for a year.

“When I have free time I try to get away as much as possible and I just try to balance time with my wife, church and friends,” Sherley said.

During the football season, Sherley is left with only a few hours at night to manage a life off the field.

One hobby that is pushed aside by football meetings and practices is playing the guitar.

“I got started my senior year in high school and since then I’ve been playing. I love a lot of different instruments, but the guitar is my favorite,” Sherley said.

Sherley’s playing the guitar is fitting because it fits both of his personas: the quietdemeanor of Sherley off the field would probably best be suited with a Gibson acoustic guitar. However, when on the field, Sherley’s game is like electric power chords screeching as the hard-hitting safety slams offensive players into the ground.

Sherley credits his athleticism and mental focus to his years on the high school wrestling team. While attending Bakersfield High School, Sherley finished second and then first in consecutive years at the state championships.

“The biggest thing that it’s helped me out with is the mental aspect. Wrestling is the number one thing in my life that molded me mentally as far as being mentally tougher and handling the physical and emotional stress of football. It taught me so much about being mentally strong,” Sherley said.

That mental toughness was challenged during his first two seasons at Fresno State as he struggled for playing time.

“There were a lot of times during those first few years where all the stress and all the time I put into it got me down and it didn’t seem like I was getting the rewards. But the commitment I made to my family and God helped me through not quitting and giving up,” Sherley said.

His perseverance and dedication have molded Sherley into a two-year starter, a hopeful future All-WAC candidate and most importantly, an anchor in the secondary on a Fresno State team in search of its first conference title.

“The highest moment in my career, by far, was my first start at Bulldog stadium last year against Weber State. I had a really solid game and I had family and friends in the stands. For awhile I’d been on the sidelines and the love of the game had slipped a little bit, but that is when it all came back,” Sherley said.

Sherley plans to graduate next spring with a degree in business; however, prior to graduation, he hopes to attend the National Football League combine and pre-draft workouts.

“I want to see how far football takes me. The NFL has been a childhood dream and I want to accomplish it, but if not, I’ve really been looking into pharmaceutical sales,” Sherley said.

If a career in the NFL doesn’t work out, Sherley will be able to fallback on the experiences and knowledge that he has gained on and off the field during his four years.

“Fresno State has really taught me a lot of lessons about life. This season alone, being 1-4 right now is the last thing I thought was going to happen. When you go through a lot of trials and hardships it teaches you about life and how you have to persevere and keep pushing through, because you can’t give up in anything,” Sherley said.

With only seven games remaining in the season, three of which are at home, Sherley is entering the homestretch of his time in a Bulldogs uniform. However, before he takes off his Fresno State pads and helmet for good, Sherley still has some unfinished business to attend to.

“I still haven’t got the WAC championship. Coming here out of high school, where I had only lost two games in four years, I wasn’t used to losing. I wanted to continue that feeling and tradition and I knew that this was a program on the rise. My goals were to win a conference championship and be in a top 25 program throughout,” Sherley said.

Even if a conference title somehow eludes him, Sherley will still have several great successes and memories to take with him.

“Fresno State is where I met my wife and I will definitely take my friendships and the education that I’ve received here with me,” Sherley said. “I’ve met some people here that I will be friends with for the rest of my life.”

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