Knox College Athletics

Drew Sherman was a record-setting running back and return specialist who graduated from Knox in 2000.  He was a three-time all-conference selection whose name can be found in the Knox football record book no less than 37 times.

Drew gained recognition early in his career as a kickoff and punt returner.  He led the team return yardage and all-purpose yards as a sophomore in 1997 and was named to the All-Midwest Conference South Division first team as a return specialist.  Drew still ranks second in school history with a career kick return average of 25.8 yards, one of 12 all-time top ten Knox football marks he established returning kickoffs and punts.

Drew came into his own as a dominant running back his junior year in 1998.  He topped 100 yards on the ground four times – including a 201-yard effort against Lake Forest.  Even after missing a portion of the season because of injury, Drew still rushed for 695 yards and six touchdowns.  Along with his kickoff and punt return duties, he totaled 1,213 all-purpose yards and garnered All-Midwest Conference South Division honorable mention accolades.

Drew, a senior co-captain in 1999, had one of the best seasons by an offensive player in Knox football history.  He was named to the All-Midwest Conference South Division first team and the recipient of the Tom Dean Award.  Drew rushed for 253 yards in a victory to open the season against Northwestern-St. Paul and never let up.  Drew set 10 new school records and tied another.  His 1,318 rushing yards in 1999 broke the previous record that stood for 75 years, and the 13 touchdowns he scored on the ground overtook a 70-year old record.  Drew also set new all-time marks for rushing attempts in a season (284), most consecutive games with a rushing touchdown (7), most consecutive games with a touchdown (7), most games over 200 yards rushing in a season (2), most games over 200 yards rushing in a career (3), most consecutive games over 100 yards (8), most all-purpose yards in a season (1,705), most all-purpose yards in a career (3,797), and he tied the record for the most games over 100 rushing yards in a season (7).

“Drew Sherman, athletically, was the most talented running back I have coached in my 24 years at Knox. He had everything and more you could ever want in a back,” said Knox head football coach at the time Andy Gibbons.  “Drew put together his senior year one of the most outstanding overall offensive performances in the history of Knox football. It did not matter if he was running, kick or punt returning, or receiving the football. He was simply amazing.”

Today, 15 years after his football playing career, Drew is still the all-time leader in all-purpose yards in a season, and he shares the records for most games over 200 yards rushing in a season and consecutive 100 yard rushing games.  He remains in the top three all-time in 16 other categories for rushing, scoring, kick returns, punt returns, and all-purpose yards.