Sanders' Big Decision

by **FriscoPMG** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 12:28 pm

Sorry if this has already been posted, but an article from SMU Rivals about E. Sanders' decision. OK, I know he's a talented kid but he was really planning on leaving school early?? Glad Deion of all people was the voice of reason...

"The night of January 14th, 2009 came and gone for most just like any other day. For Sanders, it was one of the biggest 24-hour periods of his life in which he was trying to make a decision that was far more difficult than any had realized.

"January 15th was the day that I had to decide whether or not I was going to declare for the NFL Draft," said Sanders. "On the 14th, the day before I had to send off the papers, I went to sleep that night and told my mom I was going to call her and let her know my final decision in the morning."

As Sanders lay in bed, he came to the conclusion that leaving school early was the best way to go.

"I went to sleep thinking that I was going to come out. My options were looking good that I was no doubt going to come out. That's what I was thinking."

The next morning, just hours away from faxing over his paperwork to declare his exit from college football, Sanders made a phone call. His mother wasn't the first person's number he dialed though.

"I ended up calling Deion Sanders and we talked a while. He was throwing me out the positives and the negatives. He made me realize that I'm going to catch 100 balls next year and that my draft status could possibly go up to early second round or maybe I could even sneak into the late first round."

Deion Sanders (unrelated) had become a mentor of Sanders after SMU head coach June Jones introduced the two at a Prime U camp last summer. Their relationship gained momentum throughout the year as Emmanuel Sanders would go out to Deion Sanders' house and go through workouts.

"He had Pacman Jones and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie from the Chargers out there. I would be running routes against them and I felt like I was looking good. I was going up against the best and holding my own. After that, we exchanged numbers and we started texting each other back and forth. I would come out to his house and workout with some of the guys that he'd have over.""

by **03Mustang** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 12:47 pm

He made the right decision - he had a decent year in 08, but he'd be a 4-5th rounder at best, most likely an undrafted FA.

I think Deion's prediction of late 1st-early 2nd might be a little generous, but the sky's the limit under the run and shoot. Glad he's coming back, obviously.

by **couch 'em** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 12:53 pm

I wish this Deion connection would show up on ESPN or something. Nice little recruiting tool.

by **SMU21TCU10** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 12:54 pm

Was this story copy and pasted from a rivals exclusive... :shock:

by **SMU21TCU10** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 12:56 pm

03Mustang wrote:He made the right decision - he had a decent year in 08, but he'd be a 4-5th rounder at best, most likely an undrafted FA.

I think Deion's prediction of late 1st-early 2nd might be a little generous, but the sky's the limit under the run and shoot. Glad he's coming back, obviously.

Didn't Devon Bess start for the Dolphins this year as a rookie? And Sanders is a lot faster than him. I think he ran like a 4.65 in the combine. ( I dont follow pro football at all by the way)

by **FriscoPMG** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:52 pm

SMU21TCU10 wrote:Was this story copy and pasted from a rivals exclusive...

A buddy emailed it to me, so I plead ignorance if I broke any sacred rules regarding the posting of exclusive Rivals info.

by **MustangIcon** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 2:00 pm

SMU21TCU10 wrote:
03Mustang wrote:He made the right decision - he had a decent year in 08, but he'd be a 4-5th rounder at best, most likely an undrafted FA.

I think Deion's prediction of late 1st-early 2nd might be a little generous, but the sky's the limit under the run and shoot. Glad he's coming back, obviously.

Didn't Devon Bess start for the Dolphins this year as a rookie? And Sanders is a lot faster than him. I think he ran like a 4.65 in the combine. ( I dont follow pro football at all by the way)

Bess did end up starting for the Dolphins by the end of the year, but I think he went undrafted if I recall correctly.

Sanders will put up big numbers next year and will get drafted 4th round- that's my prediction.

by **Junior** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 2:12 pm

Good read.

by **jtstang** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 2:13 pm

FriscoPMG wrote:
SMU21TCU10 wrote:Was this story copy and pasted from a rivals exclusive...

A buddy emailed it to me, so I plead ignorance if I broke any sacred rules regarding the posting of exclusive Rivals info.

Tell your buddy to keep up the good work.

by **StallionsModelT** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 3:20 pm

Wouldn't have even sniffed getting drafted. He'd have got a camp invite but he was really kidding himself if he thought he was a draftable guy this year.

by **jkflamebo** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 3:33 pm

StallionsModelT wrote:Wouldn't have even sniffed getting drafted. He'd have got a camp invite but he was really kidding himself if he thought he was a draftable guy this year.

my thoughts exactly. please...

by **Dooby** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:31 pm

jkflamebo wrote:
StallionsModelT wrote:Wouldn't have even sniffed getting drafted. He'd have got a camp invite but he was really kidding himself if he thought he was a draftable guy this year.

my thoughts exactly. please...

Really, this is the difference between the sunshiners, the nay-sayers and the third category: the realists. I will let whoever wants to put people into whatever category do so, including me.

Sanders was for most of the year statistically one of the nation's top receivers in every statistical category. He missed the last two games of the season. He had a freshman qb that had a shocking knack for overthrowing the deep ball.

NFL scouts graded him like they do every kid thinking of leaving school early. He graded very well.

There were 34 wide receivers taken in the 2008 draft. 14 of those were taken in the first 3 rounds.

To suggest that Sanders "[w]Wouldn't have even sniffed getting drafted" is just the typical friggin' SMU loser mentality bitterness.

by **StallionsModelT** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:45 pm

Wow... That might be the first time anyone on here has accused me of being a "naysayer". I think Emmanuel Sanders is a very good player and I'm pleased that he is coming back for his senior year. That said, I would have put 100K on him not getting drafted in this year's draft. It would have literally floored me. He would have had to run a 4.2 or something crazy like that and blow every scout/gm/personnel guy off his feet to get drafted. As productive and good as he is, he's just not early entry good.

by **MustangIcon** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:51 pm

Dooby wrote:
jkflamebo wrote:
StallionsModelT wrote:Wouldn't have even sniffed getting drafted. He'd have got a camp invite but he was really kidding himself if he thought he was a draftable guy this year.

my thoughts exactly. please...

To suggest that Sanders "[w]Wouldn't have even sniffed getting drafted" is just the typical friggin' SMU loser mentality bitterness.

Ding, ding, ding. I agree with you Dooby.

by **MustangStealth** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 5:36 pm

SMU21TCU10 wrote:Didn't Devon Bess start for the Dolphins this year as a rookie? And Sanders is a lot faster than him. I think he ran like a 4.65 in the combine. ( I dont follow pro football at all by the way)

That was a unique situation - first year coach, basically 0 depth at receiver. I'd consider it an anomally.

Sanders' Big Decision

Sanders' Big Decision

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