Hamburg’s Charles Sheppard is Diamond Credit Union Lineman of the Week
Diamond Credit Union Lineman of the Week
In the weeks after being named Hamburg football coach last winter Matt Hoffert watched film to gain insights about his new players.
He learned a lot about his top lineman, Charles Sheppard, by watching him on the wrestling mat.
“When I saw what he was doing in wrestling, I knew he would help us on the field, too,” Hoffert said of Sheppard, who earned a PIAA eighth-place medal at 285 pounds as a junior. “Wrestlers always make great football players, (because it helps with) footwork and balance. He has great balance coming off the ball.”
The 6-2, 286-pound Sheppard has been a force for the unbeaten Hawks this season and was again on Friday when he had a sack and recorded three tackles for loss. That, plus his strong work at offensive tackle, netted him Diamond Credit Union Lineman of the Week honors for the first time.
Sheppard’s not just big and strong but also agile.
“He has great feet, and that helps a lot when you’re moving around on the d-line,” Hoffert said. “He plays (offensive) tackle for us, but he could play guard, too, (because he’s able to) pull.”
Sheppard was a key to the defensive game plan in Friday’s 42-7 win over Kutztown.
He usually lines up at end but played nose guard to help take away the Cougars’ inside running game.
“They do a lot of stuff up the middle,” Hoffert said of Kutztown. “He was giving them a hard time in the middle, and that helped us big-time.
“He’s a sparkplug. He just fires off the ball and has a ton of intensity, and he runs downhill. He does great things on defense.”
Sheppard leads the team with 13 1/2 tackles for loss and three sacks. He’s second on the team with 29 tackles.
Hoffert said Sheppard helps set the tone on and off the field.
“Game nights, he gets himself fired up and his teammates fired up,” Hoffert said. “He’s always aggressive, especially on game day. He’s definitely a leader as far as intensity on the field, and he hasn’t disappointed so far.”
Sheppard was a Berks League Section 2 second-team pick last season at defensive tackle.
On the mat he went 34-16 with 24 pins. He finished fifth at the District 3 Tournament.
Players considered for Player of the Week honors are nominated by their coaches or by members of the MikeDragoSports.com coverage team.
Also nominated for Diamond Credit Union Lineman of the Week:
- Aden Krause, Gov. Mifflin
- Jack Dendall, OT, Wilson
Selected earlier this season:
- Week 1: Lucas Palange, Exeter
- Week 2: Jack Gartner, Wyomissing
- Week 3: Jven Williams, Wyomissing
- Week 4: Anthony Caccese, Exeter
Selected for Diamond Credit Union Lineman of the Week last season:
- Week 1: Tyler Hallock, T, Kutztown
- Week 2: Lucas Palange, G, Exeter
- Week 3: Colin Leahy, T, Daniel Boone
- Week 4: Josh Pazdrick, TE, Conrad Weiser
- Week 5: Nate Goodman, Gov. Mifflin
- Week 6: Jven Williams, G, Wyomissing
- Week 7: Kyle Pry, T, Boyertown
- Week 8: Lucas Palange, G, Exeter
- Week 9: Jon Ramsey, G, Wilson
- Week 10: Jack Durning, C, Wilson
- Week 11: Dominic Memmo, DT, Wilson
- Week 12: Kyle Lash, T, Exeter
- Week 13: Anthony Caccese, T, Exeter
- Week 14: Jven Williams, G, Wyomissing
