St. Pete athlete getting early interest
Saint Petersburg (Fla.) Catholic athlete Jock Sanders is getting plenty of early attention from Division I-A programs (including one scholarship offer) and also has several schools that he is interested in on his radar.
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"My coach told me the other day that I have three scholarship offers so far," Sanders said. "Western Kentucky, Hofstra and West Virginia (all have offered).
"He also told me that Pittsburgh is going to be on my hard after spring practice and UCF was going to be on me hard."
The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Sanders rushed for 1,398 yards and 11 touchdowns, caught 22 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 591 yards and nine touchdowns in 2005, while earning first-team all-state and first-team All-Pinellas County honors.
Sanders played a variety of offensive positions for his high school team, including quarterback, running back defensive back and wide receiver.
The national champion Texas Longhorns are among the early teams Sanders has his eye on.
"That's where I really would like to go," he said. "But they don't really recruit this area."
Clemson also is high on Sanders' early list, but the Tigers signing C.J. Spiller, Florida's top overall prospect, in this year's recruiting class may be an issue for Sanders, who would like a shot at running back.
"They are one of the top schools, but they don't get a lot of publicity like Florida, Florida State or Miami," Sanders said. "I definitely want to play running back, but I just want to get the ball in my hands, so I could be a kick returner or a punt returner, too."
Like Clemson and Texas, Auburn is a school that has Sanders' attention early. According to Sanders, a scholarship offer from any of the three may lead to an early decision.
Sanders plans to travel to the University of Miami for the Coral Gables NIKE on April 9. He also is interested in the Hurricanes.
"I just like the weather down there," he said. "When it gets cold, it just gets cool. I really like the weather."
Sanders has met with South Florida head coach Jim Leavitt and been impressed with the man who leads the Bulls program.
"He told me he liked what he saw on film," Sanders said. "It may be good to stay at home."
Florida State rounds out the early top list for Sanders because of some family ties to the Seminoles program.
"I had a lot of family that went to FSU," he said.
Sanders also plays basketball. Look for