April 30, 2011
STANFORD, Calif. - Richard Sherman became the third Stanford player to be selected in this year's NFL Draft, as the Seattle Seahawks chose the Cardinal's left cornerback with the 23rd pick in the fifth round on Saturday.
Sherman joins teammates Sione Fua (Carolina Panthers; 3rd) and Owen Marecic (Cleveland Browns; 4th) as Stanford players who were drafted in the first five rounds of the NFL Draft.
Sherman, who made the transition from wide receiver to cornerback prior to the 2009 season, earned honorable mention Pac-10 honors this past season after totaling 50 tackles and four interceptions from his left cornerback position. He keyed a much-improved Stanford secondary that finished third in the Pac-10 in passing defense (202.0) and second in interceptions (18).
In 25 career games in the secondary, Sherman totaled 112 tackles and six interceptions, including one for touchdown.
He was one of Stanford's top receiving threats for his first three years before transitioning to the secondary during spring drills prior to the 2009 season. As a freshman in 2006, he led the team in receptions (34), receiving yards (581) and tied for the team lead in touchdown receptions (3).
Sherman continued to blossom as one of the Pac-10's top young receivers in 2007, as he led the Cardinal in receiving yards (651) for the second straight season and ranked second on the squad behind Mark Bradford with 39 receptions.
He was granted a medical redshirt year in 2008 after he being limited to four games due to injury.
In his first season at left corner in 2009, Sherman finished fourth on the team with 62 tackles and had two interceptions, including one for a 43-yard touchdown return against USC.