Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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12 NOV. 6, 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME BGI: What was it about Notre Dame that led you to South Bend? Sherwood: "I always wanted to play football, and academics are really impor- tant to me. I had always been a huge Notre Dame fan, and I really think academics and the culture Notre Dame has within the football program and the school itself is really unique. "That was really the big reason of why I wanted to be here. I could kind of tell I made the right decision when I entered the locker room. Being around the other guys and everything, it's a just a special place. It's not really like anywhere else I've been." BGI: You're from North Carolina, and Notre Dame just played UNC. What was that dynamic like for your family? Sherwood: "My brother played lacrosse [at UNC]. A couple other brothers went to medical school and undergrad there. I had a big group of 14 people who came up to the game. "A lot of UNC fans, but they were cheering for Notre Dame. It was good." BGI: You ultimately graduated from Olney (Md.) Good Coun- sel, the same school Notre Dame cornerback Cam Hart went to. Is there a connection there? Sherwood: "I transferred to Good Counsel midway through my junior year, so I was never there with Cam. But right when I got here he linked up with me, welcomed me and let me know he's here for any questions. "In general, I'd say the coaches at Good Counsel and the high- level coaches there really got me ready for what college practices would be like. Then the competition of going up against D-I athletes all the time was definitely helpful for where I am now." BGI: You had a lot of scholarship offers. Why did you turn them down to walk on at Notre Dame? Sherwood: "A lot of the coaches recruiting me wanted me to go to camps my sophomore year and I got hurt, so I couldn't go then. And junior year they wanted me to come to camps but COVID hit so I couldn't. Good Counsel didn't play until the spring, so there was no film from the fall to send to those schools. "So I really didn't want that to be the reason why I didn't go and play at a dream school like Notre Dame, so I decided to come here and bet on myself and push the envelope for however far I can take football. Hopefully I earn a scholarship, start on the defense and make it to the NFL. "Notre Dame is a place unlike a lot of the other places I was talking to that really val- ues walk-ons. For the most part, I get the same opportunity as everyone else. That's really unique here." BGI: You've played every game on spe- cial teams so far. What has it been like for you to contribute like that as a walk-on? Sherwood: "It's been awesome. It's re- ally surreal. Pretty much every week when we're going out of the tunnel or after the game it hits me like, 'Wow, I'm really play- ing at Notre Dame.' I've watched them on TV my whole life and was always dreaming as a little kid to be here. "In terms of special teams, I've always been a special teams guy. In high school I loved to hit people. It really helps to get on special teams. I'm really just trying to help the team out in whatever ways I can and hopefully make a name for myself. "I just need to keep adding up reps on the field so whenever it is my time to play on the defense, special teams will definitely help me be ready for that." BGI: What's been your most memorable moment for you at Notre Dame so far? Sherwood: "It's hard to pick. We have so many of these end- of-game drives. Those are awesome to see. The Virginia Tech one in particular in terms of that was pretty cool. "The biggest moment for me — probably because it was the first one — was the Florida State game. That whole atmosphere, the Bobby Bowden memorial, how big of a game it was against a talented team and the way we ended up fighting through that game and coming out with a victory was probably the most memorable moment for me. "I just try to take it all in and be grateful, so every game is really memorable for me." BGI: What did you think of the light show at Notre Dame Stadium during the USC game? Sherwood: "It was really crazy. With the phone lights, you really see how many people are there. You kind of take it for granted playing in the stadium. You're just like, 'Oh, it's a full stadium.' But with all the individual lights, you see how many people are there. "The atmosphere was electric. It was cool seeing the other guys get excited and dance around and what not. It was really cool." Sherwood has contributed on special teams for the Fighting Irish this season. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER W A L K - O N P L A Y E R S U N I O N WOPU WOPU SPOTLIGHT SPOTLIGHT BY TYLER HORKA Q&A With Freshman Linebacker Davis Sherwood