University of North Carolina Athletics
Sherrod Peace Discusses His Career
August 15, 1999 | Football
Aug. 15, 1999
"Once a person gives you a chance to make something of yourself, take advantage of it." These words of wisdom come from senior defensive end Sherrod Peace, whose experiences on the football field prove he takes his own words to heart.
Peace doesn't remember the first time he picked up a football. He just remembers always wanting to play. As a senior, he led Northern Durham to a 15-0 record and a second state championship. He was named Defensive MVP of the state championship game as a junior and senior.
"I've played football since junior high and have always wanted to play," he says. "My brother was always on a higher team than me so that motivated me. I love playing."
After high school, Peace left North Carolina for Mississippi, where he played at Gulf Coast Community College for two years. He excelled there, honing both his football and academic skills under Coach Steve Wright. When he left Mississippi for UNC in January 1998, he was ranked a Prep Start Top 100 Junior College transfer and had received the team's scholar-athlete award.
While Peace enjoyed his years in junior college, he always wondered if he'd ever get the chance to come back to North Carolina and play football in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
"At first, I didn't know what to do or expect as far as playing football at a junior college," he says. "I thought about giving up on getting back to Carolina, but then I realized I could do it. A lot of it was me pushing myself. I thought night and day about getting another chance to play Division I football."
Peace certainly proved himself worthy of playing Division I football in 1998. He started at defensive tackle in nine of the 12 games in which he played, had 30 tackles, 27 assisted tackles, 57 hits and three quarterback pressures. He had 7.5 tackles for losses, including 3.5 quarterback sacks.
Peace has been inspired to achieve by his parents and Ken Browning, who coached him at Northern Durham and at UNC. Lamont Fletcher, a friend Peace met at a gym in Durham, also is an inspiration.
"I met Lamont outside the Hall of Fitness in Durham," he says. "He was in the Army and got burned in a bad accident. He's been through a lot of ups and downs and talking to him really inspired me. He's my best friend. I talk to him and he comes to games whenever he can."
Sherrod is not the only Peace on the Carolina roster this year. His cousin, fellow senior Jason Peace, is a standout receiver. Sherrod also has a twin brother who plays football at Howard University.
As for his hopes for this season, Peace says he has high expectations. "I am trying to be a leader by example," he says. "I'm not really a vocal person. I want everybody in the squad to do better than they did last year."
With a solid senior season, Peace has an opportunity to reach several personal goals. "I would like to have the chance to play at the next level, but if not, I'll have a degree from the University of North Carolina," he says. "I didn't think I was going to get as far as I have, and I'm not going to throw the towel in now."
y: Gibson Pate
Media Relations Assistant
