Football stars Byrd, Sherman reuniting at Humboldt State

Jabar Byrd and Aundre Sherman have been friends since playing youth football together.

With Byrd at Merced High School and Sherman at Buhach Colony, the two had some fun battles against each other.

It looks like the two will be teammates again as Byrd and Sherman verbally committed to accept scholarships to play football at Humboldt State University.

“We’re likely going to be dorm partners,” Byrd said. “It’s good to be with someone I’ve known a long time.”

“I’ve known that kid for a long time,” Sherman added. “We used to be teammates. Then we were enemies when Jabar went to Merced and now we’re going to be teammates again.”

Byrd and Sherman made their visit to the Arcata campus on the same weekend earlier this month and it was during that trip that both decided Humboldt State was the school for them.

For Byrd the decision was easy.

“After the visit I knew right away I had a good feeling,” Byrd said. “I love how isolated the campus is from everything. I really feel I can focus there and pursue my degree.”

Sherman wasn’t quite sure Humboldt was for him until he got to sit and chat with the coaching staff.

“That’s what made me want to go there. It was the way the coaches were with me,” Sherman said. “I think it was when the coaches took us out to dinner. Everybody was talking like we’ve done it before. I got a good vibe. It was comfortable.”

Byrd and Sherman played on both sides of the ball in high school. Byrd is headed to Humboldt as a running back. The Merced senior was named the Central California Conference MVP and Sun-Star Player of the Year this fall after rushing for 1,340 yards and 18 touchdowns on just 160 carries.

Sherman was an all-CCC first team selection at defensive back and will play safety and could see time as returner on special teams.

“It’s a big stress reliever,” Sherman said. “We’re getting close to the end of our senior year. It feels good to get the offer and know I have a good place to go.

Los Banos’ Barcellos headed to Colorado Mesa

Los Banos linebacker Alec Barcellos verbally committed to Colorado Mesa University after making a visit to the campus last weekend.

Barcellos was named the Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Tigers to the conference title. Barcellos had 54 tackles, five sacks and two interceptions.

“They saw him at the Wyoming Camp he went to over the summer and really liked him,” Los Banos head coach Dustin Caropreso said. “They really wanted to get out to a game and see him last year but couldn’t make it. Talking to their linebacker coach, they feel he can play the Sam linebacker for them. They feel he can come in and compete for a spot.”

Banner night for El Capitan

There will be a ceremony before tonight’s El Capitan boys basketball game against Central Valley at the Stable Center to honor the 1962 El Capitan tennis and boys basketball teams. Both teams won North Sequoia League championships while the old El Capitan High was open from 1959-1963.

Banners, which will eventually be hung in the gym, will be on display during the ceremony. There will be some members present from both teams.

“It will be exciting to see a banner go up,” said Don Bragonier, who played on the 1962 boys basketball team and now coaches boys and girls tennis at El Capitan. “It was a momentous occasion when we won it.”

This story was originally published January 29, 2015 at 9:57 PM with the headline "Football stars Byrd, Sherman reuniting at Humboldt State."