Prospect Spotlight: Eric Sherer – Andover (2021)
Andover’s Eric Sherer had not played defense since youth football. He had come up through the Huskies’ junior high program on the offensive line and coming into last fall, had not played a meaningful varsity snap at any position. When…
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Continue ReadingAndover’s Eric Sherer had not played defense since youth football. He had come up through the Huskies’ junior high program on the offensive line and coming into last fall, had not played a meaningful varsity snap at any position. When the coaches asked the then-junior to switch sides of the ball – Sherer did not miss a beat. In fact, he found a spot that will have him lining up as a starter again as a senior and possibly beyond.
“I feel like I had a good season,” Sherer said. “It was my first-time playing defense full-time in a while. I was going to play guard or tackle, but the coaches moved me to defense. I thought I would give it a try. There are things I can improve on, but I think it went well.”
When the coaches looked at who the team had coming back, they knew they had to make some moves.
“We lost our nose tackle last year, and we had more offensive linemen than defensive linemen,” Sherer explained. “There was a need to fill on the defensive line.”
Although the transition worked out well – Sherer had to adjust.
“I used to play defensive line in youth football. I picked up the playbook quickly. My teammates helped me with that. The hardest thing about the change was constantly taking double teams. It was a physically demanding position.”
At 6’3″ and 280-pounds, the Huskies’ big man was a handful inside.
“I am best stopping the run. I usually take up two or three blockers a play.”
The Huskies finished with a .500 record in 2019.
“We started slow,” Sherer admitted, “but as the season went along, we developed and built up our chemistry. It didn’t end up the way we hoped it would, but overall, it was a good season.”
The defense carried the team early.
“Defensively, we were all flying to the ball. We were communicating,” Sherer said. “Offensively, about halfway through the season, things started clicking, and they were getting the ball to the right people, and they made plays.”
During the winter, Sherer did not intend to find a second sport he was passionate about – but it happened.
“It was my second year of wrestling. I wrestled JV. I was undefeated and was the JV section champion at heavyweight. Wrestling is a good workout. I started doing it to stay in shape for football, but it has turned into something I like a lot. I am pretty mobile and quick for my size.”
Although Sherer could not get into the weight room once things got shut down, he was able to improvise.
“I would have lifted weights at the high school this spring. I have resistance bands. For the first few weeks, I did resistance band workouts. I could pretty much do any lift with the bands. Later we got a 600-pound tire, and we started doing tire flips, and tire jumps, and I ran hills.”
“This summer, I have been able to lift at the school,” Sherer continued. “Every other day, we alternate between strength days and agility days. We do a lot of bench, clean and squats.”
Sherer – who likes to hunt and fish – has been working on a specific football skill outside of his workouts.
“I need to work on my pass rush,” Sherer told prepredzone.com. “I have been using agility ladders and cones. I have been running hills – working on my footwork first to set up other stuff. I have been working with tall dummies to work on my rips, spins, and pass rush moves.”
When the news came down from the high school league saying the season was going to be postponed, Sherer had mixed emotions.
“At first, it was disappointing because we have been preparing for a while now. My friends and I realize it means we have more time to get better. It has been a curse and a blessing at the same time.”
Although he has played defense for exactly ten games, Sherer has caught the eyes of college football programs.
“Recruiting has been good so far. Most of the people I have talked to have made it easy. I have an offer from Bemidji State. Moorhead, Valley City, Eu Claire, and Jamestown have shown interest. They are looking at me as a nose guard or a three-technique.”
“They like how quick I am,” Sherer continued, “they like my reactions and my speed for as big as I am.”
College programs are intrigued by Sherer’s talent after one season. After a second season, the interest in him will only get more intense.