Jock Sanders
Encyclopedia
Jock Sanders is a gridiron football
slotback
and running back
for the BC Lions
of the Canadian Football League
. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football
at West Virginia
.
Sanders was given three and two stars by different recruiting sites while being recruited by West Virginia
, Florida
, Ohio State, UCF, Bowling Green University, and South Florida
as an athlete. Sanders eventually committed to West Virginia University after a December 2, 2006 visit.
along with high school legend Noel Devine
in the Mountaineers' recruiting class. Sanders eventually made the team as the third-string running back behind Devine and collegiate star Steve Slaton
and a slot receiver position. Sanders was even listed as the second-string back for the season opener against Western Michigan
after an impressive off-season.
In the season opener against Western Michigan
, Sanders had three carries for 13 yards and a reception for 13 yards. He also had a total of 37 return yards on two returns (a punt and kickoff return). In the next game against Marshall
, Sanders saw no action as Devine was the second-string runner and returner. In the third game against Maryland
, Sanders got in on the last two plays of the game in which he rushed on both plays for 11 yards. Against ECU
the following game, Sanders totaled three rushes for 15 yards and one reception for 6 yards. He also had key blocks that sprung receiver Darius Reynaud
for two touchdowns in the 48-7 win. Against Syracuse in the 55-14 win, Sanders had two rushes for 10 yards and his first career touchdown, two receptions for 12 yards, and a kick return for 27 yards. In the 38-31 win over Louisville
, he had two receptions for 32 yards, including a screen pass that Sanders broke for 23-yards.
In the 28-23 victory on the road against #22 Cincinnati
, Sanders had a reception for 15 yards, in which he leaped into the air and pulled the ball down in the middle of the field in the redzone. In the Big East Championship-clinching 66-21 win over #20 Connecticut, Sanders rushed for 58 yards and a touchdown on only three carries, helped out by his 56-yard long.
Jock Sanders finished his true freshman season with 12 receptions for 102 yards, an 8.5 yard average per reception. He also had 16 carries for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Sanders also had 5 total returns for 101 yards. Sanders finished the season with 308 all-purpose yards while playing in all 13 games on the year.
, along with four other West Virginia University
students; participated in an off-campus attack upon two of their fellow WVU students, outside of a Morgantown
bar known as Club Z.
To begin his sophomore season, Sanders totaled 62 yards on 8 receptions for two touchdowns and also had 28 yards rushing on two carries and 54 yards on two kick returns in the 48-21 victory over Villanova Wildcats
. In the following 24-3 loss to ECU
, he had three receptions for 20 yards and three kickoff returns for 54 yards. In the 17-14 loss to Colorado
, Sanders rushed seven times for 30 yards and also caught a reception for no gain.
In the 27-3 victory over Marshall
, Sanders totaled 8 receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown and rushed two times for 13 yards. In the 24-17 victory over Rutgers
, he had 4 receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown. Then in the 17-6 victory over Orangemen
, 4 passes for 22 yards, a touchdown, and 4 rushes for 11 yards were recorded by him. Sanders' 12-yard touchdown reception from backup Jarrett Brown
was his fifth of the season - all being in home games.
In the 34-17 victory over Auburn
, Sanders rushed 6 times for 42 yards and caught 4 passes for 31 yards. Sanders finished the game with 73 total yards. Then in the 35-13 win over #25 Connecticut, Sanders rushed 7 times for 45 yards and two touchdowns, and caught 3 passes for 21 yards and a touchdown. He finished the road victory with 66 total yards and a career-high 3 touchdowns. In the following 26-23 overtime loss to Cincinnati
, Sanders finished the game with 5 receptions for 52 yards, including a 30-yard reception during the 4th quarter comeback, and two rushes for -3 yards.
Sanders then followed-up the loss in the 35-21 victory over rival
Louisville
with a 25-yard touchdown reception and 3 rushes for 14 yards. In the following 19-15 Backyard Brawl
loss to Pittsburgh
, Sanders had 4 rushes for 37 yards and 2 receptions for 14 yards. Sanders then finished out the regular season with 24 yards rushing and 38 yards receiving as he started at running back for the first time in his career in the 13-7 win over South Florida
. He earned second-team All-Big East honors following the regular season-ending win. In the Meineke Car Care Bowl
win over North Carolina
, Sanders rushed 3 times for 10 yards and had 5 receptions for 70 yards.
Sanders finished his sophomore season with 250 yards on 48 carries for 2 touchdowns and a team-leading 53 receptions for 462 yards and 7 touchdowns. He also had 136 yards on 10 returns - totaling 848 all-purpose yards.
on charges of DUI
. He was initially pulled over for speeding and crossing the center line, however it was found that his blood-alcohol level was 0.125, compared to the legal limit of 0.08. Head coach Bill Stewart
suspended Sanders indefinitely pending the court case, due to it being his second criminal incident in two years.
on November 27, 2010, Sanders became the Mountaineers all-time leading receiver in catches with 192. He broke the record that was previously held by David Saunders (1995–98). In his Senior season, Mountaineer fans recognized him and WVU Running Back Noel devine as the top performers on the team.
as an undrafted free agent on July 27, 2011. He was waived on August 29.
.
Gridiron football
Gridiron football , sometimes known as North American football, is an umbrella term for related codes of football primarily played in the United States and Canada. The predominant forms of gridiron football are American football and Canadian football...
slotback
Slotback
Slotback is a position in Gridiron football . The slotback is similar to the wide receiver but also has many of the same traits as a running back, lines up closer to the offensive line and often farther back...
and running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. He was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at West Virginia
West Virginia Mountaineers football
The West Virginia Mountaineers football team represents West Virginia University in the NCAA FBS division of college football. Dana Holgorsen is the team's 33rd head coach. He has held the position since he was promoted in June 2011 after the resignation of Bill Stewart. The Mountaineers play their...
.
Early life
In high school at St. Petersburg Catholic High, Sanders was a three-time all-state receiver and running back. He was named the team MVP two times in his career while rushing for 1,600 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior and 1,200 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior. He was also a basketball letterman.Sanders was given three and two stars by different recruiting sites while being recruited by West Virginia
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
, Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, Ohio State, UCF, Bowling Green University, and South Florida
University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, also known as USF, is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, one of the state's three flagship universities for public research, and is located in Tampa, Florida, USA...
as an athlete. Sanders eventually committed to West Virginia University after a December 2, 2006 visit.
Freshman Season
Sanders came to West VirginiaWest Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
along with high school legend Noel Devine
Noel Devine
Noel Devine is an American football running back for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2011 and was released four days later after leaving the squad. He played college football at West Virginia.He had a...
in the Mountaineers' recruiting class. Sanders eventually made the team as the third-string running back behind Devine and collegiate star Steve Slaton
Steve Slaton
Steve Slaton is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
and a slot receiver position. Sanders was even listed as the second-string back for the season opener against Western Michigan
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
after an impressive off-season.
In the season opener against Western Michigan
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
, Sanders had three carries for 13 yards and a reception for 13 yards. He also had a total of 37 return yards on two returns (a punt and kickoff return). In the next game against Marshall
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
, Sanders saw no action as Devine was the second-string runner and returner. In the third game against Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, Sanders got in on the last two plays of the game in which he rushed on both plays for 11 yards. Against ECU
ECU
ECU may refer to:Automotive terms* Electronic control unit, a generic term for any embedded system that controls one or more of the electrical systems or subsystems in a motor vehicle...
the following game, Sanders totaled three rushes for 15 yards and one reception for 6 yards. He also had key blocks that sprung receiver Darius Reynaud
Darius Reynaud
Darius Reynaud is an American football running back / wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at West Virginia....
for two touchdowns in the 48-7 win. Against Syracuse in the 55-14 win, Sanders had two rushes for 10 yards and his first career touchdown, two receptions for 12 yards, and a kick return for 27 yards. In the 38-31 win over Louisville
University of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
, he had two receptions for 32 yards, including a screen pass that Sanders broke for 23-yards.
In the 28-23 victory on the road against #22 Cincinnati
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati is a comprehensive public research university in Cincinnati, Ohio, and a part of the University System of Ohio....
, Sanders had a reception for 15 yards, in which he leaped into the air and pulled the ball down in the middle of the field in the redzone. In the Big East Championship-clinching 66-21 win over #20 Connecticut, Sanders rushed for 58 yards and a touchdown on only three carries, helped out by his 56-yard long.
Jock Sanders finished his true freshman season with 12 receptions for 102 yards, an 8.5 yard average per reception. He also had 16 carries for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Sanders also had 5 total returns for 101 yards. Sanders finished the season with 308 all-purpose yards while playing in all 13 games on the year.
Sophomore Season
Before the 2008 season began in February, Sanders was involved in an altercaltion. He and his teammate Noel DevineNoel Devine
Noel Devine is an American football running back for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2011 and was released four days later after leaving the squad. He played college football at West Virginia.He had a...
, along with four other West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
students; participated in an off-campus attack upon two of their fellow WVU students, outside of a Morgantown
Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown is a city in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It is the county seat of Monongalia County. Placed along the banks of the Monongahela River, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia, and the base of the Morgantown metropolitan area...
bar known as Club Z.
To begin his sophomore season, Sanders totaled 62 yards on 8 receptions for two touchdowns and also had 28 yards rushing on two carries and 54 yards on two kick returns in the 48-21 victory over Villanova Wildcats
Villanova
Villanova may refer to:In botany:*Villanova, a genus of plants in the family Phyllanthaceae, an invalid name replaced by Flueggea, or bushweed*Villanova , a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae.In education:*St...
. In the following 24-3 loss to ECU
East Carolina Pirates
The East Carolina Pirates are the intercollegiate sports teams representing East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. All varsity-level sports teams sponsored by the university compete in NCAA Division I as a member of Conference USA...
, he had three receptions for 20 yards and three kickoff returns for 54 yards. In the 17-14 loss to Colorado
Colorado Buffaloes
The University of Colorado Boulder sponsors 16 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's team are called the Buffaloes or Golden Buffaloes . "Lady Buffs" referred to the women's teams beginning in the 1970s, but was officially dropped in 1993...
, Sanders rushed seven times for 30 yards and also caught a reception for no gain.
In the 27-3 victory over Marshall
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
, Sanders totaled 8 receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown and rushed two times for 13 yards. In the 24-17 victory over Rutgers
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are the athletic teams that represent Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey...
, he had 4 receptions for 47 yards and a touchdown. Then in the 17-6 victory over Orangemen
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
, 4 passes for 22 yards, a touchdown, and 4 rushes for 11 yards were recorded by him. Sanders' 12-yard touchdown reception from backup Jarrett Brown
Jarrett Brown
Jarrett Brown is an American football quarterback who is currently with the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He played college football at West Virginia, and was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent following the 2010 NFL Draft...
was his fifth of the season - all being in home games.
In the 34-17 victory over Auburn
Auburn Tigers
Auburn Tigers is the name given to Auburn University athletic teams. The University is a member of the Southeastern Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 19 varsity teams in 13 sports:* Men's sports** Baseball** Basketball...
, Sanders rushed 6 times for 42 yards and caught 4 passes for 31 yards. Sanders finished the game with 73 total yards. Then in the 35-13 win over #25 Connecticut, Sanders rushed 7 times for 45 yards and two touchdowns, and caught 3 passes for 21 yards and a touchdown. He finished the road victory with 66 total yards and a career-high 3 touchdowns. In the following 26-23 overtime loss to Cincinnati
Cincinnati Bearcats
The Cincinnati Bearcats are the NCAA athletic teams representing the University of Cincinnati. Since July 1, 2005, the school's athletic teams have been members of the Big East Conference....
, Sanders finished the game with 5 receptions for 52 yards, including a 30-yard reception during the 4th quarter comeback, and two rushes for -3 yards.
Sanders then followed-up the loss in the 35-21 victory over rival
Louisville-West Virginia rivalry
The Louisville–West Virginia rivalry is a new rivalry football game between the University of Louisville and West Virginia University. The rivalry was introduced in 2005, as Louisville left Conference USA and moved into the Big East conference...
Louisville
Louisville Cardinals football
The Louisville Cardinals football team represents the University of Louisville in college football as a member of the Big East Conference. Howard Schnellenberger started the program's rise to relevancy after winning the Miami Hurricanes' first national championship...
with a 25-yard touchdown reception and 3 rushes for 14 yards. In the following 19-15 Backyard Brawl
Backyard Brawl
The Backyard Brawl is an annual football game between the University of Pittsburgh Panthers and the West Virginia University Mountaineers. The term "Backyard Brawl" has also been used to refer to college basketball games played annually or semi-iannually and may also be used to refer to other...
loss to Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
, Sanders had 4 rushes for 37 yards and 2 receptions for 14 yards. Sanders then finished out the regular season with 24 yards rushing and 38 yards receiving as he started at running back for the first time in his career in the 13-7 win over South Florida
South Florida Bulls
The South Florida Bulls are the athletic teams for the University of South Florida. The university competes in NCAA Division I, USF is a member of the Big East Conference, and has been since 2005...
. He earned second-team All-Big East honors following the regular season-ending win. In the Meineke Car Care Bowl
Meineke Car Care Bowl
The Belk Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. First played in 2002, it was certified by the NCAA as the Queen City Bowl and was previously known as the Continental Tire Bowl and the Meineke Car Care Bowl before Belk acquired...
win over North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels
The North Carolina Tar Heels are the athletic teams for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The name Tar Heel is a nickname used to refer to individuals from the state of North Carolina, the Tar Heel State...
, Sanders rushed 3 times for 10 yards and had 5 receptions for 70 yards.
Sanders finished his sophomore season with 250 yards on 48 carries for 2 touchdowns and a team-leading 53 receptions for 462 yards and 7 touchdowns. He also had 136 yards on 10 returns - totaling 848 all-purpose yards.
Junior season
On February 10, 2009, Sanders was arrested in MorgantownMorgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown is a city in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It is the county seat of Monongalia County. Placed along the banks of the Monongahela River, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia, and the base of the Morgantown metropolitan area...
on charges of DUI
DUI
DUI is a three letter acronym that may stand for:* Driving under the influence * Democratic Union for Integration — the largest ethnic Albanian party in the Republic of Macedonia* Data Use Identifier...
. He was initially pulled over for speeding and crossing the center line, however it was found that his blood-alcohol level was 0.125, compared to the legal limit of 0.08. Head coach Bill Stewart
Bill Stewart (football coach)
Bill "Stew" Stewart is an American football coach. He was named interim head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers after Rich Rodriguez left for Michigan in December 2007. After leading the Mountaineers to a 48–28 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners in the Fiesta Bowl, he was formally...
suspended Sanders indefinitely pending the court case, due to it being his second criminal incident in two years.
Senior Season
With his first catch against the Pitt PanthersPittsburgh Panthers football
Pittsburgh Panthers football is the intercollegiate football team of the University of Pittsburgh, often referred to as "Pitt", located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Traditionally the most popular sport at the university, Pitt football has played at the highest level of American college football...
on November 27, 2010, Sanders became the Mountaineers all-time leading receiver in catches with 192. He broke the record that was previously held by David Saunders (1995–98). In his Senior season, Mountaineer fans recognized him and WVU Running Back Noel devine as the top performers on the team.
Career Statistics
| WVU | Rushing | Receiving | Kickoff Returns | Punt Returns | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Games | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Lg | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Lg | No | Yds | Avg | TD | Lg | No | Yds | Avg | TD | Lg | ||||
| 2007 | 13 | 16 | 105 | 6.6 | 2 | 56 | 12 | 102 | 8.5 | 0 | 23 | 3 | 58 | 19.3 | 0 | 27 | 2 | 43 | 21.5 | 0 | 23 | ||||
| 2008 | 13 | 48 | 250 | 5.2 | 2 | 29 | 53 | 462 | 8.7 | 7 | 41 | 6 | 130 | 21.7 | 0 | 32 | 4 | 6 | 1.5 | 0 | 7 | ||||
| 2009 | 13 | 35 | 175 | 5.0 | 1 | 19 | 72 | 688 | 9.6 | 3 | 38 | 1 | 28 | 28.0 | 0 | 28 | 17 | 146 | 8.6 | 0 | 35 | ||||
| 2010 | 13 | 14 | 92 | 6.6 | 1 | 31 | 69 | 728 | 10.6 | 4 | 48 | 12 | 299 | 24.9 | 0 | 60 | 8 | 86 | 10.8 | 0 | 66 | ||||
| Total | 52 | 113 | 622 | 5.5 | 6 | 56 | 206 | 1980 | 9.6 | 14 | 48 | 22 | 515 | 23.4 | 0 | 60 | 31 | 281 | 8.9 | 0 | 66 | ||||
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sanders was signed by the Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
as an undrafted free agent on July 27, 2011. He was waived on August 29.
BC Lions
On October 12, 2011, Sanders signed a practice roster agreement with the BC LionsBC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
.