Double threat gets appointment
They say that football is a game of inches, but in the case of standout quarterback Scott Saunders (6-0, 197, 4.75) from Palm Springs, Calif., inches also count when getting recruited as a signal caller.
Saunders has had a tremendous senior season. He has led Palm Springs to an 11-1 record and will play in the semi-final game this Saturday Evening (December 3rd) against a very powerful Fontana (Calif.) Kaiser.
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On the season, Saunders has just about done everything for Palm Springs. Besides his quarterback duties, Saunders also punts, and kicks field goals and extra points.
As a quarterback, Saunders has been just about flawless running the spread option attack. He has thrown for 2,563 yards, and 25 touchdowns while completing 71% of his passes.
Saunders has also rushed for 1,096 yards and 22 rushing touchdowns. He has hit on 44-51 PAT and 2-3 on field goals, plus he's averaging 41.1 yards per punt.
Saunders is in the Golden State in all-time total offensive yards and he could still play two more games.
On the recruiting trail, Saunders is open but he's looking at a specific five schools right now.
"Scott has been told by all the big schools that if he was three inches taller, he would be able to name his school," Palm Springs coach Scott Saunders, Sr., said. "It is what it is."
"If Scott ends up at USC he will go there as a kicker and punter," Saunders said. "Stanford has offered Scott a preferred walk-on opportunity as a quarterback."
"Scott has received an appointment from Air Force," Saunders said. "Columbia even sent him a jersey with the number one on it."
Obviously Saunders has all the tangibles and intangibles except height that would spell success on the next level.
One former Pac 10 coach likens Saunders to another big armed but short of stature quarterback, former Oregon State great signal caller Jonathan Smith.
Smith was a preferred walk-on during Mike Riley's first regime at Oregon State and he went on to be one of the greatest quarterbacks in Oregon State history.
The Saunders' recruiting story could be interesting over the next month or so.