Blacksburg's Hard Hitter

Ledger Photo by SCOTT POWELL Blacksburg's Rashad Earls earned the team's first Hard Hat Award for his hard hit on a Woodruff wide receiver last friday. Rashad Earls is listed at only 5-foot-9 and 150 lbs. on the Blacksburg Wildcat roster. But, in reality, no one plays a bigger role for his team.

Earls lines up at wide receiver and cornerback and plays on special teams - and he's productive in all three roles.

Case in point - in week one against Walhalla, Earls rushed for a two point conversion and executed a near-perfect onside kick.

A week later, Earls hauled in a 25-yard touchdown pass and scored a two-point conversion. In week three, he caught a 26-yard TD pass against Indian Land.

How's that for versatility!

"I like playing defensive back or running routes on offense," Earls said. "You get tired, but there is no room to get tired. It's a mental thing."

He's been perfecting his jack-of-all trade reputation since his sophomore year.

"I've always played both ways and I enjoy playing both ways," Earls said. "The more reps you get, the more chance you have to make plays."

Earls' most memorable play happened in Friday's game against Woodruff. Earls flattened a Woodruff wide receiver who roamed into his area to catch a screen pass.

"It was a bubble screen, but I knew I wouldn't have a chance to intercept it, so I put my head into his chest," Earls said.

The receiver laid on the field for several seconds before leaving the field under his own power.

That hit earned Earls the team's first-ever Hard Hat Award.

"That was the best hit I've seen at Blacksburg," Blacksburg coach Mickey Moss said. "Against Woodruff, we struggled in the first half and he made that big hit and it kind of gave us a spark after that."

Earls said his momentum-changing play was no accident.

"I try to get a big hit every game," Earls said. "A lot of times a pass in the flat is when you can make a big hit. I have to make them not want to catch the ball."

Earls has been making big plays for a long time. He began playing football as a member of a youth team.

"My parents liked the (Dallas) Cowboys," Earls said. "I was the biggest fan of Deion Sanders. I liked his game and it was just something I wanted to do. I strive to be like him."

Like Sanders, Earls has become an invaluable member of his team.

"He's just an all-around player," Moss said. "He's small, quick but he has a big heart. He's done a good job for us. He really never comes off the field."

Earls has enjoyed individual on-the-field success, but team success is another matter. The Wildcats failed to make the playoffs last season and are winless this year.

"It's hard at times," he said. "Coming up, we hardly ever lost. But in high school, we've had some of our best guys quit. But the younger guys have stepped up. I'm proud of the younger guys who just want to go out and get better."

Earls is focused on today's game with Dixie and his future.

"The players really seem fired up for today's game," he said.

As for his future, the versatile one has received recruiting letters from Moorhead State and West Liberty State.

"I would like to play football in college," he said.

RASHAD EARLS

FACT BOX

POSITION: Wideout, cornerback MEASUREMENTS: 5-9, 150 lbs.

WORTHY OF NOTE: The versatile Earls earned the team's first Hard Hat Award.