Lenoir-Rhyne University safety Marcus Shuford loves to tackle challenges like he tackles receivers running in his midst.
In his third season as a starter for the Bears, Shuford says he is used to the challenges he faces, and he doesn't get as nervous as he did when he was younger.
"I don't feel a lot of pressure on the field, because by now, I think I should be ready for anything," said Shuford, a former Newton-Conover High star who is a defensive captain for the Bears.
With preseason practice nearing an end -the Bears open their season against Shorter College at home at 7 p.m. on Saturday night __ it's time for Shuford's junior season t L-R to begin.
"I'm ready to play," he said.
Shuford is coming off a sophomore season in which he earned All-South Atlantic Conference second-team honors with 78 tackles and four interceptions.
He also garnered an all-league second-team preseason honors for this season, which surprised neither Shuford nor Bears head coach Fred Goldsmith.
"I set high goals for myself," Shuford said. "I want to be All-American and I'm not going to stop working for that."
Goldsmith thought highly enough of Shuford's work ethic to name him a defensive captain as a junior.
"He's the quarterback of our defense, no matter the age," Goldsmith said.
Goldsmith said he recruited Shuford "heavily" out of high school, in hopes that the football, basketball and track star would stay local and choose the Bears.
Once friends Mike Harold and Brian Sullivan picked L-R, Shuford followed suit, much to Goldsmith's excitement.
"My friends called me one night and told me they signed with L-R," Shuford said. "And the very next morning I was on the phone committing to play with them as well."
Shuford said Goldsmith's style of coaching conflicted with that of his high school coaches, but in a good way.
"Coach G is laid back, he oversees everything we do, he's old-school like that," Shuford said. "But I'm new school.
"So it's a neat thing for the both of us."
In Shuford's first two seasons at L-R, the Bears finished 5-17.
Shuford said this year's L-R defense is ready to shock the league.
"I see us coming together much better than last year," Shuford said of the differences between 2008 and 2009. "We have more camaraderie, and we have a couple of guys who have been there, done that before, in our lineup."
Shuford placed emphasis on the "couple" with good reason.
The Bears face a stiff challenge when the season starts -- they return seven defensive starters, but youth dominates Shuford's side of the ball.
Four of the 11 starters are underclassmen, and several freshmen are also on pace to make an impact on a defense that ranked seventh in the SAC and surrendered more than 384 yards per game.
Goldsmith said he expects Shuford to be a coach on the field for L-R's younger players, and Shuford knows his results will be magnified not only by the coaches but by the presence of his family and friends at L-R home games.
"It means a lot for me to have them come watch me play," Shuford said.
When the chips are down and the crowd's eyes are on him, the former Newton-Conover leader believes his objective becomes simpler than ever.
"Win," Shuford said. "Do whatever it takes to win."
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