Richard Sherman is holding students accountable, so much so that he’s giving them his cellphone number.

Sherman has been lecturing school assemblies to encourage students to dedicate themselves to their work. But it doesn’t end there.

Students who seem to need a little extra encouragement get the opportunity to have private meetings with Sherman.

“We’ll do our best to influence the kids and get them back on track and get them to understand how important school is,” the Seattle Seahawks cornerback told KIRO Radio’s Tom & Curley Show.

Sherman goes as far as signing a contract with the students and giving them his personal cellphone number in case they need to discuss any problems they’re having.

“They’re usually pretty good about keeping it about important issues,” Sherman said. “A lot of them are progressing pretty rapidly.”

There are between 25-30 kids with Sherman’s cellphone number &#8212 at least that he knows of.

“There’s only one of me, but I can do my part,” he said.

But is Sherman’s dedication to children part of a changing attitude or has he always been like this, KIRO Radio’s Tom Tangney wanted to know.

“I don’t think anything’s changed,” Sherman responded. “I’ve always been who I am.”

That sentiment may not be something reflected while he is on the field or even during post-game interviews. However, Sherman said it’s always been more than football. More people are starting to understand that as they dig deeper.

“A lot of people that know me understand what is truly important to me,” Sherman added.

If calls and text messages from students weren’t keeping him busy enough, Sherman is also preparing for his third annual Blanket Coverage charity auction dinner on July 18 and the celebrity softball game on July 19 at Safeco Field.

All this while he continues to enjoy fatherhood. Sherman’s son is now 5 months old, and still filling those diapers.

“I thought he’d be in the bathroom using the regular toilet by now,” Sherman said laughing.

“It’s a shocker isn’t it, sometimes you’re thinking did a cow sneak in during the middle of the night and fill this diaper,” Curley asked.

“I’m still trying to figure out how all this came from baby formula,” Sherman said.

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