AUBURN, Ala. – Sitting with his hands crossed, he could not help but let out a smile. Auburn senior defensive back Sam Sherrod looked down at his wrist and explained the significance of each bracelet he proudly wore, two of the four having to do with his love for Auburn.
"This one says 'Ride for the Brand,'" Sherrod said. "Which is our motto for our season this year. It means to ride for and think about the people in the past who paved the way for us." He also wore a Lutzie 43 Foundation wristband honoring the legacy of former Auburn tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen.
Community has always been a part of Sherrod's life, beginning from when he was a young Auburn fan to now. He surrounds himself with a support system he relies on.
Born and raise in Birmingham, Ala., Sherrod grew up in the Auburn Family. His dad David, an Auburn alum, brought him to every home football game when he was younger. He can recall times when he played football with his friends at tailgates outside of the stadium, dreaming of one day playing on the field in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
His football career started when he was seven years old and in the second grade. That's where he developed his passion for the game – "playing a grade up" with his friends.
"I fell in love with (football) and have loved it ever since," Sherrod said.
In high school at Briarwood Academy, Sherrod served as team captain and earned the leadership award as both a football and lacrosse player. When he graduated, he had a decision to make. He could either play football for a smaller school and likely earn more playing time or follow his dream of going to Auburn without a guarantee of ever seeing the field.
The spirit of Auburn drew him in, and he chose to attend the place where he had spent so many of his childhood Saturdays.
When Sherrod first got to Auburn, he knew "without a doubt" he wanted to give walking-on to the football team a shot. His biggest motivator, his dad, would always tell him, "Just give it a chance." He knew that the worst answer he would get would be no.
"Next thing I knew, I made the team," Sherrod said. "It was so fast and crazy from there.
"My first game was the last home game of the (2016 season), and I just remember Tiger Walk as one of the greatest experiences I've ever had. You could just feel that Auburn Family. I had the biggest smile on my face and just so much joy seeing everybody and going down that walkway as part of the team."
From Tiger Walk to the locker room to the playing surface of Jordan-Hare Stadium, the awe-inspiring feeling has never left Sherrod – even now as a senior on the team.
"Before the kickoff, you get chills when the smoke goes off," Sherrod said. "It's kind of cold on you and you can't really see. Then you run through the tunnel and you see the smoke and the fans are out – it's one of the craziest feelings for sure."
Looking back on his football career at Auburn, Sherrod's favorite memory was in 2017 when the Tigers beat No. 1 Georgia and No. 1 Alabama at home in the month of November. He still remembers the fans doing the swag surf and then storming the field after the Alabama game.
Four years earlier, Sherrod was one of those fans who stormed the field after Auburn knocked off its in-state rival in the famous Kick-Six game.
"It's crazy to think that one year I was a fan and the next I was a part of the team," he said.
Sherrod, who is also an Eagle Scout and a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll, will graduate in May from the Harbert School of Business with a bachelor's degree in business marketing. After graduating, he hopes to continue his academic and football careers while in graduate school.
"If I had to tell a high school student thinking about walking on for Auburn, I would definitely tell them to do it," Sherrod said. "The experience is worth it. Just stick with it."