Wheeling, W. Va. - It was a big day for the Cardinals on Saturday when they defeated Fairmont State 35-28 in their Mountain East Conference (MEC) schedule opener. After nearly sweeping the MEC Player of the Week awards, the accolades kept coming for the Cardinals with the release of the D2Football.com Athletes of the Week, Defensive Back Leonard Sherrod was named the D2Football.com Defensive Player of the Week, the first Cardinal football player to win the honor in program history.
Sherrod would play a key role in helping the Cardinals secure their conference opening win, finishing with eight total tackles, five solo and three assisted. Along with his work both in the run game and the passing game, Sherrod also played a role in all three of the Cardinal's defensive turnovers on the day. He finished with two interceptions, the first Cardinals player with multiple interceptions in a game this season, while also adding a fumble recovery in the effort. He was named the MEC's Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts, earning the honor for the first time this season. He currently leads the MEC with 39 total tackles this season, while also leading the conference with 23 assisted tackles through the first four games.
His biggest interception of the day would come with just 1:54 to play as Fairmont State was driving down the field to tie the game. Fairmont State was set up with 1st and 10 on the Wheeling 29-yard line, and Sherrod stepped in front of the pass at the Wheeling 11-yard line for the interception, ultimately icing the game for the Cardinals. His first interception would come right before the halftime break, stopping another Fairmont State drive in Wheeling territory. Since finishing with just three tackles in the first game of the year, Sherrod has come back strong, picking up eight or more tackles in each of the last three games. His high water mark would come in week two, when he broke the single-game tackle record with 18.0, finishing with four solo tackles and 14 assisted, in the Cardinal's home opener.
Sherrod is the first Wheeling Football player in program history to be recognized as a D2Football.com Player of the Week. It is the second time this week that Sherrod has earned Player of the Week honors, adding the title to his MEC Defensive Player of the Week award. He is one of three Cardinals to be recognized this week, with Ade Olanegan and Day Day Bates each winning Player of the Week honors from the MEC.
The Wheeling University Football team returns to action on Saturday, October 4th, when they host West Virginia Wesleyan in their 2025 Homecoming Game, with kick-off at 3:30 PM.
