Vincent Sanders, a wide receiver for Noxubee County High School in Macon, Miss., has caught the eye of recruiters from dozens of high-major programs, West Virginia included, and pending a possible commitment to the Mountaineers, Sanders would become another piece in the puzzle to WVU’s progressing passing attack.
Specifically detailing his recruiting status with WVU, Sanders said, “They stand pretty high. They have a good program. For the last couple years, they have been going to bowl games.”
Sanders says he’s reeled in around 13 touchdown passes this season, helping Noxubee County (10-1) solidify itself as a top-tier prep program in Mississippi. “I come from a winning program,” Sanders said. “If I come to WVU, won’t too much change.”
At 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, Sanders’ pass-catching skills have earned him an impressive list of scholarship offers from Florida State, Texas Tech, Tennessee, Alabama, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Arkansas, Southern Miss, UNC and of course, WVU.
However, at this time, Sanders said he’s unsure of when he will make his decision.
“Everybody that recruited me that’s still recruiting me stands pretty high. Everybody’s No. 1 right now," he said.
Sanders explained why recruiters are pursuing him in droves: “I’m able to makes plays around the field,” while adding that his balance and size enable him to go over defenders and catch passes. ESPN's Scouts Inc ranks Sanders the No. 57 overall wide receiver for the 2010 class and evaluated him with a 78 scouts grade.
But what makes WVU stand apart from the rest of the pack is the fact that Sanders had only planned one official visit this fall, which was a trip to Morgantown this weekend, when the Mountaineers welcome in Louisville. “I wanted to come up there pretty bad and see what they had to offer,” said Sanders. “But they changed the game time and I couldn’t get a flight. I don’t have any other visits scheduled right now.”
WVU graduate assistant Brandon Tate, who played wide receiver for the Mountaineers from 2005-2007, hails from the same hometown as Sanders and also played for Noxubee County. Tate has headed up WVU’s recruitment of Sanders, who has also received letters from other coaches on the football staff. “Different coaches send me letters, but Brandon is the guy I always talk to,” said Sanders. “Me and Brandon Tate are real close.”
Sanders explained Tate tells him much about playing at WVU. “He says it’s a good place. I’ll have an opportunity to come in and play. He told me a lot of positive things about them.”
Currently, four wide receivers have given their verbal pledge to join the program as part of the 2010 class.
"From what [Tate] tells me, they really want me.”
The recent mishap in travel arrangements is not fully deterring Sanders from rescheduling an official visit to WVU sometime in the near future. He also plays basketball for Noxubee County and those upcoming obligations may factor into his plans to take the visit. “I’m trying to look at my basketball schedule and see what would be a good time for me to come up there.”
His talents on the hardwood do not appear they will impact his coming college football career. “Most likely, I’m going to play football in college,” he said.
And despite being offered from three in-state programs, among other elite teams, Sanders has not made plans to take official visits because he said he is “really trying to focus on high school.”
Sanders had a chance meeting with 2010 WVU quarterback commit Barry Brunetti, at a football camp back in the summer. Sanders talked with Brunetti on the phone while Brunetti was in Morgantown taking an official visit. “He really likes WVU,” Sanders said of Brunetti. “He told me if I come up there, I’ll commit because I’ll have a real good time.”
Photo Credit: Bulldawg Junction