"You're too small! You will never make it at that size!" You need to switch positions!" Throughout his entire football career, DT Sheffield has heard it all. As a high school quarterback, Sheffield put together a terrific four years that was capped by a scintillating senior season. Despite passing for over 1,300 yards with 20 touchdowns along with 981 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground, there was very little interest in Sheffield.
Wanting to further his football career, DT decided it was best for him to switch positions and try to perfect his craft at Northwest CC in Mississippi. While showing glimpses during the 2020 shortened season, Sheffield put it all together in a magnificent 2021 season. In 12 games, Sheffield caught 57 balls for a team high 1,089 yards and 10 touchdowns, including a breakout performance in the championship game 171 yards and two touchdowns.
His 2022 season saw an increase in both receptions and touchdowns but despite putting up huge numbers over the previous three season, that call telling him to make that jump to Division I never came. With questions about his height always hovering over his game, he wondered if that call would ever come.
Sheffield kept working, and then THE call followed.
We sat down with Sheffield to discuss the doubters, his time at CC, how WSU has been so far, and much more. Here is what DT had to say……
How was your first spring ball as Coug?
It was good, I was able to get acclimated with all the guys and coaching staff. The weather is different for sure, being from Mississippi, so that's some getting used to. Everything has been good for the most part though!
After spending the last three years at JUI, what made now the right time to make the switch to play football at the highest possible collegiate level?
Since I was little that's always been the goal, to play football at the highest level. Since I played QB and was shorter than most coming out of high school, I got recruited very little, leading me to take the JUCO route. From there it was just waiting for my time. Made sure that I put on a show when I stepped onto the field, and let the rest take care of itself.
How many schools did you talk to before committing to WSU?
About 10 schools. I talked to two major programs, WSU and Kansas, with the rest being small division one schools. Eric Morris (previous OC) recruited me to come here after recruiting me when he was at Incarnate Word, so I decided to just trust the process and chose WSU as the school I wanted to attend. Also, with me being from Mississippi and living there my whole life, it feels good to get away from a lot of the distractions that come with being home.
Obviously there are substantial differences between where you grew up and Pullman. Talk to me about some of those, how have you been able to adjust?
Yeah they definitely are very different. Obviously it's a colder. The part that gets me is when it's warm outside and then it starts snowing out of nowhere, there's none of that where I'm from! Maybe once or twice a year there's snow but that's it.
You put up huge numbers at the JUCO level. How confident are you in your ability to translate those numbers to a higher level of competition?
Very confident. JUCO is definitely a little easier, competition is not at the same level, but I'm confident in my abilities. The biggest difference between the two has been game speed, with juco played at a slower pace, it's taken some time to get adjusted.
With Cam Ward back as QB1 for another season, but a mostly new group of receivers, how important has it been to build that chemistry.
Extremely. I've been learning the playbook a lot so I haven't gotten that much time with Cam, but when I have it's been good. We're always communicating with each other as we try to get that chemistry down.
What are your expectations for the group this season?
Pac-12 Championship.
What makes you confident in those predictions?
Just the way we've come together as a team since spring ball started. The team is bonding and we got a bunch of playmakers who are ready to make plays. It's going to be an exciting season.
What would you like Coug fans to know about you on and off the field?
On the field you're getting a playmaker. Someone who likes to make big time plays and get the crowd involved. Off the field I'm very chill, and spend a lot of my free time fishing.
What's your music taste like before a game?
I've never been one of those people who need music to get hyped before a game. If I do listen, it'll be some Youngboy, lil baby, something like that. Mostly though, music is not needed before the game.
Good luck this season DT! Go Cougs!
Wanting to further his football career, DT decided it was best for him to switch positions and try to perfect his craft at Northwest CC in Mississippi. While showing glimpses during the 2020 shortened season, Sheffield put it all together in a magnificent 2021 season. In 12 games, Sheffield caught 57 balls for a team high 1,089 yards and 10 touchdowns, including a breakout performance in the championship game 171 yards and two touchdowns.
His 2022 season saw an increase in both receptions and touchdowns but despite putting up huge numbers over the previous three season, that call telling him to make that jump to Division I never came. With questions about his height always hovering over his game, he wondered if that call would ever come.
Sheffield kept working, and then THE call followed.
We sat down with Sheffield to discuss the doubters, his time at CC, how WSU has been so far, and much more. Here is what DT had to say……
How was your first spring ball as Coug?
It was good, I was able to get acclimated with all the guys and coaching staff. The weather is different for sure, being from Mississippi, so that's some getting used to. Everything has been good for the most part though!
After spending the last three years at JUI, what made now the right time to make the switch to play football at the highest possible collegiate level?
Since I was little that's always been the goal, to play football at the highest level. Since I played QB and was shorter than most coming out of high school, I got recruited very little, leading me to take the JUCO route. From there it was just waiting for my time. Made sure that I put on a show when I stepped onto the field, and let the rest take care of itself.
How many schools did you talk to before committing to WSU?
About 10 schools. I talked to two major programs, WSU and Kansas, with the rest being small division one schools. Eric Morris (previous OC) recruited me to come here after recruiting me when he was at Incarnate Word, so I decided to just trust the process and chose WSU as the school I wanted to attend. Also, with me being from Mississippi and living there my whole life, it feels good to get away from a lot of the distractions that come with being home.
Obviously there are substantial differences between where you grew up and Pullman. Talk to me about some of those, how have you been able to adjust?
Yeah they definitely are very different. Obviously it's a colder. The part that gets me is when it's warm outside and then it starts snowing out of nowhere, there's none of that where I'm from! Maybe once or twice a year there's snow but that's it.
You put up huge numbers at the JUCO level. How confident are you in your ability to translate those numbers to a higher level of competition?
Very confident. JUCO is definitely a little easier, competition is not at the same level, but I'm confident in my abilities. The biggest difference between the two has been game speed, with juco played at a slower pace, it's taken some time to get adjusted.
With Cam Ward back as QB1 for another season, but a mostly new group of receivers, how important has it been to build that chemistry.
Extremely. I've been learning the playbook a lot so I haven't gotten that much time with Cam, but when I have it's been good. We're always communicating with each other as we try to get that chemistry down.
What are your expectations for the group this season?
Pac-12 Championship.
What makes you confident in those predictions?
Just the way we've come together as a team since spring ball started. The team is bonding and we got a bunch of playmakers who are ready to make plays. It's going to be an exciting season.
What would you like Coug fans to know about you on and off the field?
On the field you're getting a playmaker. Someone who likes to make big time plays and get the crowd involved. Off the field I'm very chill, and spend a lot of my free time fishing.
What's your music taste like before a game?
I've never been one of those people who need music to get hyped before a game. If I do listen, it'll be some Youngboy, lil baby, something like that. Mostly though, music is not needed before the game.
Good luck this season DT! Go Cougs!