Stroud a main defensive leader for Redbugs’ squad seeking to build off last season’s 3A semifinal appearance
By Buck Ringgold
Though he also plays on offense, Vincent Stroud really enjoys being on the defensive side of the ball.
A senior at Fordyce, Stroud plays defensive end.
“The thing I like about playing defense is I get to go against the opponent on the other side, and I feel like they have to work as hard as me on the other side, and I feel like it’s gonna be a day for them,” said Stroud, a senior. “So to just hit people and have fun and have everybody being able to play and get a play on defense, that’s a good thing that I like.”
Stroud recorded 78 tackles and made 15 sacks last season for a team that finished 13-1 and reached the Class 3A semifinals. He also recovered three fumbles and picked off a pass while earning All-Conference 3A-8 and All-State honors.
And now, Stroud is back on a Redbugs’ unit that gave up an average of nearly 14 points a game, including a pair of shutouts.
“What makes us such a great defense is we come ready to practice,” he said. “We take defense very seriously.
“We’ve always been a defensive team, and we buy in with every snap.”
Stroud also considers himself to be the leader of the defense.
“My biggest leadership skill is getting everybody to buy in and have the mindset that you’ve got to work hard at all time, because if you don’t, there’s a team out there hungry for you, and you’ve got to be ready,” he said. “So I feel like I have to prepare my teammates to be ready at all times.”
Stroud, who primarily plays tight end on offense, is hoping last season’s success can carry over to this season. Of course, he and the Redbugs want to play 15 games this year, meaning they would get the chance to go to Little Rock and play for a 3A title.
“As a defensive team, we know we’re going to go out and we’re going to perform, but at the same time, we’re going to have the same thing that we have on defense, on offense,” Stroud said. “And I feel like if our offense is clicking, that’s going to give us the momentum to get to state.”
