Beach District player to watch: Sterlin Phifer of Landstown

VIRGINIA BEACH

Two seasons have come and gone since the last time Landstown made the playoffs.

Senior running back Sterlin Phifer doesn’t need any reminders. All he has to do is look at the pictures of former stars Percy Harvin and Damon McDaniel that line the wall in the Eagles’ weight room.

As a freshman, Phifer was fortunate to play alongside Harvin and McDaniel when the Eagles won the Beach District and Eastern Region titles, then fell to Oakton in the state title game in 2005.

“I learned a lot from those guys,” Phifer said. “They were competitive guys, and they instilled in me to always be the best.”

What they didn’t teach him, however, was how to live in their shadows.

Phifer is now the star at Landstown, and he hears what people say about the program.

“It’s very frustrating because after Percy and Damon left, all I heard people saying was that we weren’t going to be anything,” Phifer said. “So to win another title would mean a lot because it would shut up all the doubters who say we can’t win without Percy or Damon. It would also show them that I can make my own destiny.”

Phifer, 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds, is a powerful downhill runner who has rushed for 1,000-plus yards the past two seasons, with 1,281 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

He’s rated the No. 59 running back nationally in the Class of 2009 by one recruiting service and already has committed to Boston College.

He knows that for him to lead Landstown back to the playoffs, he’s going to have to take his game to another level.

Enter Tommy Reamon.

When Reamon became the coach at Landstown in April, he had heard about Phifer’s punishing running style but had not seen him play since he had coached on the Peninsula.

“I really didn’t know much about him,” Reamon said. “So I knew I had to get my own eyes on him. I didn’t want to go by what other people had to say.”

When Reamon saw game film of Phifer, he knew he had something special.

“I knew then that it was time to go to work,” Reamon said.

What fascinated Reamon about Phifer is that Phifer reminded Reamon of himself. Reamon was a standout back in his high school days in Newport News, went on to star at Missouri, was drafted by the Steelers in 1974 and later played for the Chiefs.

So when it comes to playing running back, Phifer knows he better listen to Reamon.

“I’m so glad to have him as my coach because I can’t argue with him about being a running back — he knows my position,” Phifer said. “He’s played professionally, so I know I can learn a lot from him.”

Reamon’s goal is to make sure Phifer is ready for major college football. He wants Phifer to be a back who can catch, block, and run with mobility and lateral movement.

“It’s my desire to make sure he is completely developed and trained in the short time that I have with him,” Reamon said. “He has the complete package and what you’re going to see this season will help answer those people who said, 'How did he get to Boston College?’ ’’