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| ASU defensive end strikes fear into
hearts of competitors |
Josh Dernosek
Sports Beat |
Josh Brown | Cheif Photographer
Jeffries leads the Appalachian defense with 25.5 career sacks and
95 career pressures. He also is one of the four captains on the
team. |
To opposing quarterbacks
the number 58 is not just a number. It is something to fear, something
to keep their eye on throughout the game.
To the Mountaineers, that same 58 is a sign of
strength, leadership and pure passion for the game of football.
Josh Jeffries enters his senior season at Appalachian
State University on top of his game in every aspect of the expression.
Jeffries is first in career sacks (25.5), first in career quarterback
pressures (95), one of four captains on the squad, and he is viewed
as a role model on and off the field. |
“Being a captain
is the biggest honor in all of my football because it is voted on
by the rest of the team. The coaches have no say in it,” said
Jeffries.
“Josh Jeffries is a great player, there is no question about
it, the untold thing about Josh that many people don’t see
is that guy is a great person,” said head coach Jerry Moore.
“He is just a terrific individual, he’s got a sense of
purpose in him.”
Josh came to Boone from Rougemont where he attended Northern Durham
High school. He earned four letters in football and baseball, three
in basketball and accrued 326 career tackles and 50 sacks on the
grid-iron.
When Jeffries got to Boone he had already begun a sports resume
that any team would love to obtain, and coach Moore was glad he
did.
“He came out of a good high school program in Northern Durham.
He knew what it was like to work, to win and to sacrifice,”
said Moore. “All he has ever done here is just improve.”
Improvement is an understatement. Jeffries’ numbers on the
field put him high on the list as one the great football players
in Appalachian history.
The list is one with names like Dexter Coakley, Matt Stevens and
Ryan Watson, who all are currently playing in the National Football
League.
Leading the record books in two categories, which he will just add
to, holding four 2001 first-team all American honors under his belt,
a 2001 first-team all SoCon and a 2000 first-team all SoCon, Jeffries
is no doubt a force to be reckoned with.
Jeffries claims his milestones came naturally, with some mental
toughness and a little bit of hard work.
“I never really felt pressure, but it feels good to have them,”
said Jeffries. “Individual goals are to good to look back on
in 40 years when I am telling my kids about when I played for Appalachian.”
For the upcoming season, Jeffries wants to lead the Mountaineers
to the promise land.
With visions of winning the National Championship keeping him company
while he sleeps, Jeffries thinks this is the year, since it’s
his last.
“Anything less than a conference title would be disappointing.
I would like to compete for the National Championship,” said
Jeffries.
“Josh has got a passion to win, in his sports life I don’t
think that there is anything more important to him than winning
it all,” said Moore.
In the future, Josh looks to play with some of the guys that his
name will sit next to in Appalachian record books. The next step
after college is the NFL, where, in a perfect world he would like
to play with the Carolina Panthers.
“I would love to play in the NFL, but it’s going to be
hard and I am going to have to play well. Hopefully I will get a
chance.” |
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