All Sherard Reynolds wants is an opportunity.

As expected, the three-time All-American defensive back for Valdosta State went undrafted in the 2009 NFL Draft. The surprise is that a little over a month later with teams in camps, nobody has even offered him a tryout.

“I’m still trying for the NFL,” Reynolds said. “I am going to keep trying until I can’t try anymore.”

West Georgia defensive coordinator James Colzie was Reynolds’ position coach and special teams coordinator during the Blazers 2007 national championship season, and is confident in the free safety’s ability to play in the NFL.

“I think Sherard is one of the best (defensive backs) I’ve had, mainly just because he’s very cerebral,” said Colzie, who has coached six current NFL defensive backs between his time at Florida State, Florida International and Valdosta State. “(He) knew the game and was able to adjust week to week which is something you have to do week in and week out.”

“There is no question (that he can play in the NFL),” Colzie said. “The only drawback with Sherard is that he isn’t 6-foot-3 or 6-foot-4, but there are a lot of guys in the NFL who don’t meet the height requirement but are damn good football players. Sherard Reynolds fits that mold.”

To be drafted out of a Division II school is rare, even out of a powerhouse like Valdosta State. But Blazers with fewer accolades than Reynolds have found themselves in mini-camps the last few seasons.

In 2006 defensive end Tim Thompson tried out in mini-camp with the Tennessee Titans, and offensive tackle Richard Collier made the Jacksonville Jaguars.

After the 2007 national championship season, offensive tackle Gerald Davis tried out with the New Orleans Saints before signing with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League and eventually getting traded to the Edmonton Eskimos this offseason.

Quarterback Willie Copeland threw passes in both the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins mini-camps and cornerback Maurice Leggett made the Kansas City Chiefs, eventually becoming a nickel corner and earning the Mack Lee Hill Award as the Chiefs 2008 Rookie of the Year.

How can those five get tryouts with teams when they combined for less All-American seasons than Reynolds?

“I think it is a combination of things,” Reynolds said. “It’s all about timing and team needs. I guess it’s a bad time right now. I don’t know.”

Considered a low pro prospect by most small school draft evaluators, Reynolds had some improvements to make after his junior season pro day.

“They (NFL teams) said I was little bit undersized for the NFL,” Reynolds said. “I ran (between) a 4.7-4.6 40 (yard dash) and I needed to improve on that.”

Reynolds, who played his senior season at 5-foot-10 and 182 pounds, was originally clocked at a 4.7 second 40-yard dash before the 2008 season began, which is too slow for an NFL safety.

His game film spans his 2005 season at wide receiver and follows with three All-American seasons at safety and four years of special teams play. But his combine-type speed was not impressive. Coming from Valdosta State he was going to need to jump off a sheet of paper before NFL coaches would watch his game film.

When Valdosta State won its second football national championship in 2007, Reynolds was a ball hawk for the Blazers at free safety.

“He was our best defensive player the year we won the national championship,” Colzie said. “Not Leggett, not (William) Montford. Sherard Reynolds was one of the main reasons why we won a national title on the defense and on special teams.”

Reynolds looked for aid from Willie Jackson, a retired NFL player of nine seasons to improve as per the recommendation of NFL scouts. Reynolds and Jackson worked out weekly to improve his size and speed, eventually running a 4.46 40-yard dash at his senior pro day.

“I went down to Gainesville every week and he did some drills with me to improve my 40 and he showed me some whey protein I should take,” Reynolds said. “I went to GNC and took some and I gained some weight.”

Reynolds showed up to his senior pro day about 20 pounds bulkier and showcased his new high gear speed, which was questioned by most scouts.

“That was the first time ever running a 4.46,” Reynolds said. “Other times I ran in the 4.6 range and the fastest time I had (to that point) was a 4.5.”

It seemed as though Reynolds had turned the heads of the scouts attending his pro day, and the All-American and his agent were confident offers would come following the draft.

The 40-yard dash time in the 4.4’s was impressive enough that Reynolds was now being looked at as a multi-purpose player. His skills returning kicks and punts for four seasons and his numbers from his freshman season in 2005 as the Blazers leading receiver made him intriguing to teams.

“There were around 10 teams (interested) at one point,” Reynolds said. “Dallas, Tampa Bay, the Eagles and actually the night of my pro day my agent called and said that Chicago called to ask if anybody was down there to see me. He told him my results and they seemed excited about that.”

As the draft approached NFL teams closer to the Colquitt County native’s hometown developed interest in Reynolds, who had offers from Duke, Georgia Southern, Carson-Newman and Middle-Tennessee State out of high school. Atlanta inquired about Reynolds, who had conversations with a Jacksonville scout after his pro day.

“It’s been a while, (since) the last time I heard (about a teams interest),” Reynolds said. “He (Reynolds’ agent) said he talked to Atlanta. And Atlanta said they were full. Most teams are not taking anybody or teams are not in need of safeties or cornerbacks.”

“I talked to the head scout out of Jacksonville. He said that I was a good ball player, that I improved on a lot of things and he said that I should be getting a call. I talked to him later and he said that it wasn’t up to him, it was up to other guys in the organization.”

Even if teams didn’t need a safety or cornerback, one would think a player with the special teams versatility Reynolds has could find a team looking to fill that part of its roster. That is the route his former teammate Maurice Leggett went, eventually earning regular playing time at cornerback for the Chiefs.

“He’s got a lot of football savvy,” VSU head coach David Dean said. “The thing that I really thought that would help him was that he could play offense or defense and he could also return kicks and could play any type of special teams you would need. He was great for our punt block team, he was great for returning punts, he was a great kick returner and he made a lot of tackles on our kickoff and punt teams.”

“I know there are 32 teams in the NFL that have made a huge mistake, not getting him into their camp, because he’s a playmaker,” Dean added.

Teams are wrapping up camps, making cuts and finalizing rosters. Meanwhile, Reynolds has no team. Every scout Reynolds has spoken to is shocked as much as he is that he didn’t get a single camp invite.

“He’s probably one of the best playmakers who has ever come through our program,” Dean said. “The guy is just a winner, he knows the game of football, he works hard. It’s unfortunate for him because he definitely deserves a chance to get into a camp somewhere. If somebody ever gives him a chance he’s going to make a squad.”

Reynolds could join former teammate Gerald Davis in the Canadian Football League or Bo May in one of many Arena Leagues, but he believes he can play in the NFL and that is his first option. If that doesn’t work out and he is forced to give up his dream, Reynolds wants help build a future All-American and NFL hopeful back in his hometown.

“If I can’t play in the NFL, the CFL or Arena League I would try and work on getting a job in coaching,” Reynolds said. “I could go back to Moultrie and coach. They have a few positions open there. I am going to try and do that if I don’t get a job playing.”

Reynolds will continue to work out daily, as if still trying out for the scouts. He will train like everyday is a day closer to his own NFL draft because he wants to be ready when that phone rings.

“I know I can play in the NFL. I don’t want to live with the fact that I didn’t get a chance. All I want to do is get the chance to play in the NFL, that’s all I want.”