Coming from rival, trash-talking RB ‘brings a lot of confidence’ to Boise State
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Transfer RB Malik Sherrod brings experience, speed and edge to Boise State.
- Sherrod, once a Fresno State standout, now competes for Boise State’s RB1 role.
- Teammates praise Sherrod’s confidence, game tempo awareness and vocal presence.
New Boise State running back Malik Sherrod has yet to play a game in orange and blue, but the 22-year-old has already left an imprint on the program.
Flashback to November 2023: A struggling Boise State side, led by head coach Andy Avalos, traveled to central California to take on longtime Mountain West rivals Fresno State. The Broncos scored a touchdown on the cusp of halftime to pull within three points, and sent a skimmer of a kickoff bounding toward the Fresno State end zone.
Sherrod, wearing the red and white of the Bulldogs then, gathered the ball at the 5-yard line. In the blink of an eye, he was cruising down the center of the field without a Bronco close to him. Cutting toward the sideline, he brushed off the attempted tackle from kicker Jonah Dalmas and took the kick for a TD and 20-10 lead as time expired in the second quarter.
Boise State went on to lose the game 37-30. A week later, after a victory over lowly New Mexico, Avalos was fired and defensive coordinator Spencer Danielson was promoted to be interim head coach.
Coming up on two years later, Sherrod is on the other side and Danielson is coming off a historic first season as head coach. Sherrod naturally still remembers that play; so do his new teammates.
“When I first got here, I was hearing it for like the first month, for sure,” Sherrod said Friday. “Everything that had to do with Fresno, I was getting jabs at for sure. But it’s calmed down. I feel like we all understand that I’m a Bronco now.”
With just one year of eligibility remaining, Sherrod wants to leave a few more impressions on Boise State fans before all is said and done. But this time, they’d really appreciate them.
The 5-foot-8 running back spent five years in Fresno, appearing in 40 games for the Bulldogs between 2020 and 2024. But something that maybe Fresno State fans would not want to hear is that Sherrod initially wanted to come to Boise State out of high school.
“I think it was just at the time that the coaches that were here just didn’t like a smaller back,” Sherrod said. “You know, (Boise State) usually has bigger backs, so I think it was one of those reasons. But no love lost.”
Sherrod’s arrival at Boise State may have gained some attention because of the rivalry between the two schools, but his initial impact on the team was expected to be as a special teams returner.
That perception has shifted. Running backs Sire Gaines and Jambres Dubar have dealt with injury issues through the spring and the start of fall camp, but Sherrod had firmly planted himself in the conversation for backfield playing time anyway. His good speed, in conjunction with his strength and fluid running, has impressed teammates and coaches alike.
“That whole running back room is very good, but Malik, that’s an experienced football player,” redshirt junior quarterback Maddux Madsen said Monday. “And so for him to be able to see a field in real life that’s the tempo that college football plays, that is huge. And he brings a lot of confidence to the offense himself.”
It’s not just confidence that Sherrod is bringing to the offense, but also a little edge. Sherrod’s trash-talking is one of the constant themes his teammates have mentioned about him since he arrived. And having seen him at Fresno State, the Broncos already knew he was good at getting in the opposition’s ears.
Sherrod said Friday that he has a “unique” and “outgoing” personality, and even though his trash-talking may seem serious, it’s all in good fun. However, that doesn’t stop him from researching opponents before games, he said, and bringing up things like their girlfriends to get in their heads. He’ll even talk a little trash to his teammates in practice.
“I like a little trash talk out there, because that happens in the game,” Boise State defensive coordinator Erik Chinander said Friday. “Let’s simulate the game more out there at practice. I think Malik does a good job of getting under their skin by his play, not necessarily what he’s saying.”
Sherrod said he’s had a few not-so-nice words sent his way from Fresno State fans since transferring. His response: “I couldn’t care less.”
“It is what it is at this point,” Sherrod said. “They’re gonna feel some type of way, but at the end of the day, I’m doing this for myself and my career and what I think is best for me. And this was the best move for me.”
