HALL OF FAME SPOTLIGHT: Sturdivant displays on sports activities adventure
Revealed 2:19 pm Monday, June 19, 2023
Quan Sturdivant’s athletic skill become obvious within the mid-Nineteen Nineties as he proved to be a dominant player on each and every early life recreation staff for which he rostered within the West Stanly space.
Quan Sturdivant
His athletic prowess persisted as he participated in center and highschool sports activities, and clarified that his athletic adventure would proceed past that degree, and his efficiency as a linebacker on the College of North Carolina resulted in his variety within the 6th spherical of the 2011 NFL draft through the Arizona Cardinals.
“My preliminary hobby in sports activities have been guys in the community,” he stated, noting Isaac Sturdivant particularly with sparking his hobby in all issues athletic.
Sturdivant additionally credited numerous adults within the Oakboro and West Stanly spaces with influencing his early life sports activities studies.
“Mike Burleson, Kim Huntley and John David Smith have been probably the most those who inspired me to play onerous and revel in no matter recreation I used to be enjoying,” Sturdivant stated.
In highschool Sturdivant stood out at the soccer box at West Stanly, however he additionally performed basketball and baseball.
Regardless of his implementing dimension, he made his mark as a quarterback at the Colt soccer squads, capping a stellar senior yr finishing 99 of 179 passes (55.3%) for 1,794 yards and 21 touchdowns, As well as, he rushed 111 occasions for 745 yards. He finished his highschool occupation as a three-time all convention and two-time all-state participant, along with being named convention participant of the yr as a senior.
Sturdivant credited numerous Colt coaches along with his construction as each a participant and an individual, bringing up particularly former head soccer trainer Wealthy Williams, along with basketball trainer Rudi Heath and baseball trainer David Lee.
At UNC, Sturdivant’s dimension and mobility led the training team of workers to shift him to the defensive facet of the ball, on which he began 5 occasions and performed in all 12 of the staff’s video games at out of doors linebacker as a real freshman in 2006. As a sophomore, he persisted his construction, enjoying in all 13 of the Tarheels’ video games and recording 122 tackles (87 solo), two sacks, one pressured fumble and two interceptions, incomes honorable point out All-American reputation through Sports activities Illustrated.
Sturdivant is fast to credit score then-UNC coaches Butch Davis, Tommy Thigpen and Artwork Kaufman.
“They have been influential in serving to me develop as a soccer participant,” he stated.
After being moved to center linebacker throughout his junior season, Sturdivant stuck the eye of NFL scouts and was once drafted within the 6th spherical of the league’s 2011 draft (171st total) through the Arizona Cardinals. He was once later traded to the Kansas Town Chiefs and finished his occupation with Washington.
With skilled sports activities at the back of him, Sturdivant continues to give a contribution to the sport he loves, having served as an assistant soccer trainer at Anson Top College lately.
He sees sports activities as being a treasured alternative for kids to grow to be productive adults.
“I feel an important lesson children can be informed from sports activities is being responsible,” he stated. “As well as, being a excellent teammate, giving your all on a daily basis in existence and studying to care for adversity are all classes that athletics can train.”
Sturdivant additionally believes that kids must keep away from that specialize in sports activities at early ages.
“One destructive I see in early life sports activities, or even highschool sports activities, is that youngsters simply pay attention to one recreation,” Sturdivant stated, including, “each and every recreation has other actions and ability units that translate to one another.”
Sturdivant is considered one of 5 individuals who will likely be inducted into the Stanly County Sports activities Corridor of Repute on July 17 at Pfeiffer College.
Tickets to the induction rite are to be had for $35 prematurely at Albemarle Town Corridor, Albemarle Parks and Game (Jesse F. Niven Middle / E. E. Waddell Middle, Starnes-Bramlett Jewelers, Uwharrie Sprint, Locust The city Corridor and Oakboro The city Corridor.
