A First Team Pac-10 All-Freshman selection in 2006, Richard Sherman was one of the few bright spots during a 2006 Cardinal season mired by lackluster efforts and embarrassing losses. As a true freshman, Sherman capped off an impressive year with 34 receptions, 581 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Sherman has already started off this season hot, scoring on a 70-yard touchdown in the opener against UCLA and turning in an encore performance with a 46-yard touchdown reception against San Jose State.

Wearing dreadlocks that would make Bob Marley proud and hailing from Compton, Calif., Sherman is both a talented and determined individual — on and off the field. The Stanford Daily had the opportunity to catch up with the budding sophomore, who shared his thoughts on all things Cardinal football.

On the arrival of Jim Harbaugh.

He was tremendously excited and energetic. I didn’t know too much about him at the time. The first time I met him, he seemed ready to change this program. Right from the start, from the first time I met him. It was great to see a coach doing that — running around the locker room and changing the culture of the school, changing the culture of the team and making it a lot more fun to play football at Stanford.

On the future of Stanford football.

I see us winning a lot more games in the next few years and winning bowl games. He’s [Coach Harbaugh] not afraid to take risks. He’s a players’ coach. He knows what we’re going through. He knows when our legs are tired and when we need rest, things like that — the little things that coaches who haven’t played before wouldn’t think of. I think he relates to it a lot better — the offense is great. It creates a lot of mismatches, and that will definitely win a lot of games.

On “An enthusiasm unknown to mankind.”

We’re a lot more confident in what we can do. We know we can win. Even though we lost [in the season opener against UCLA], there’s still a chance we could have won that game. The team is together. There isn’t any separation in our game. The coaches encourage [us] and make sure we know all our assignments. It’s just an overall confidence of the team that has really improved, and players are playing with more confidence.

On Harbaugh’s brushes with the media, Pete Carroll and his alma mater, Michigan.

I really like it because it shows he has confidence in the players and the program. He has confidence in the things he can do, and we’re not going to be afraid of anything. I have the same attitude toward anything.

You can’t back down from any challenge, any challenger. There is no man better than you unless you let him be. That’s what he’s been preaching: we can play with anyone. I like it a lot.

On the influence senior receivers Evan Moore and Mark Bradford have had on him.

I’ve learned a lot from both of them, especially when I first got here. I learned the little things, the releases and different tips on what corner[back]s are watching for. It has definitely helped tremendously; they both have influenced the way I play a lot. It’s great to play behind them for one more year until they both hopefully go to the [National Football] League. It’s been great for me to have that.

On coming to Stanford after attending Dominguez High School in Compton, Calif.

It’s definitely just different. It’s much different. The people here are a lot different — around where I’m from, our school wasn’t the best. The neighborhood wasn’t the best. There were a lot of problems around.

Here, you can wear whatever you want and go wherever you want without thinking about it. I’ve come a pretty long way from where I was in high school, and I feel like I’ve developed into a better person and a better player since I’ve been here.

On his own development as a player.

I’m just trying to improve game after game. Hopefully produce some more and go to the NFL. I’m really excited to play better and make the team better. That’s why I play football — I’m looking for game-to-game improvement.

On senior quarterback T.C. Ostrander.

He’s a real smart guy. A great quarterback, a great leader. He can bring us back; I have tremendous faith in him because he’s shown me a lot of things and he’s a great leader. I feel real good with T.C. at quarterback.

On the rest of the season.

We can win the rest from here. If we play mistake-free and things go right, then we can win every game there is. I definitely feel like we’re going to a bowl game this year. I’m totally confident in that.