Vincent Sandes returns to the football field

Mississippi Scout
Posted Oct 5, 2009
Yancy Porter


Mississippi's most dynamic two player broke his jaw in the opening game of the season and missed the next month due to the injury. Friday, Vincent Sanders returned to the field and made an immediate impact. To learn more, read below.



"It just felt really good to be back out there with the guys," added Vincent Sanders. "I have never been injured before, so I have never missed any games."

Was the 4-Star game ready?

"As far as being in shape, I came back in pretty good shape. I never got winded. I did not have any cramping problems. I got a new helmet to protect my jaw, and it felt a little odd. The first time they threw me a fade route; I fell to the ground because I was off balance (laugh). The new helmet is so heavy so it kind of threw me off, but after a couple of fades, I got use to it."

There were a couple of other areas that Sanders felt rusty.

"Probably adjusting to the ball while it was in the air was my biggest thing. It had been a long time since I had a pass thrown my way."

Which position did Vincent play, QB or WR?

"I actually played both. I started off at receiver, and then they moved me to QB. I had a couple of rushing TD's and a couple of catches. It went OK."

Did Vincent protect his jaw by trying to avoid a collision, or did he go into the game not thinking about it at all?

"I just went out there and played like I did before. Once you get on the field, you can not think about that kind of stuff or you will get re hurt."

Sanders penciled in his first official visit to a school that had previously not been on his list.

"I am taking an official visit to West Virginia when they play Louisville (11/7). They want me to come up there and see if I am really interested so I am going to take an official visit up there when they play Louisville."

How and when did West Virginia get into the picture?

"A wide receiver that played for Noxubee County is now an assistant at West Virginia. It is actually Earnest Harmon's brother. He told me they could use some WR's so I am going to go check it out."

Anybody else in talks with Vincent about taking an official visit?

"I am still talking to North Carolina about taking one, but I just have not been thinking about that stuff because I have been focused on just getting back on the field."

When did North Carolina get into the picture?

"I got in contact with them this summer, and Coach Crawford has been staying in contact with me ever since. They are recruiting me as a safety."

Sanders has been busy this Fall attending some local college games.

"I went to MSU Saturday to see them play Georgia Tech. I also went to see State play LSU and Jackson State. I saw Ole Miss play S' Eastern (LA), and I am going back up there this weekend to see them play Alabama."

How did the Georgia Tech/MSU game go?

"It was a pretty exciting game. I did not see the third and a lot of the fourth quarter because I saw a teacher of mine in the hallway at halftime, and we talked pretty much the whole second half. But I was impressed with State. They just turned the ball over too many times, but other than that, they did pretty good."

Vincent expands on how he fits in at MSU.

"I think I fit in well. They do not pass the ball a lot, but they have a lot of good running backs, so that is what they do. I feel like once they get in some good receivers; they will start passing the ball more. You know Coach Mullen is going to want to pass the ball more. They have a pretty good defense too, and I think I would fit in there too if I were to play safety, but they are mainly recruiting me as a receiver."

What about Ole Miss?

"I think I fit in pretty good with them also. They rotate different packages. I can play there, but I will have to adjust to that because I am not use to coming out."

How does MSU use their rotation?

"They pretty much run the same package. They run a three wide out set or a two wide out set and a tight end. Ole Miss has so many different packages. They run the Wild Rebel, 4 wide out, 3 wide out, 2 wide out. They are rotating their receivers in and out, in and out. If you are the #1 receiver, you do not come out much, but if you are not their #1 receiver, you are in and out of the game."

Is that due to the number of packages or the depth at both schools?

"Well, probably both, but I am not really sure. Ole Miss just uses a lot more packages than MSU, and they also have a lot more receivers than MSU, so I guess it is a little of both. I do not have a problem with being rotated. If I have to come out every other play, I will just have to get use to it because I never come off of the field here (in high school)."

Which schools are being the most consistent in their recruitment with the Macon resident?

"I would say MSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and USM."

How does Vincent fit in with Tennessee's offense?

"I think I fit in their offense too. I talk to Coach Wilson a lot. He said they rotate their receivers by the series. If you go in on 1st down, you stay in until that series is over, unless you catch a 50 yard bomb or something and you need to catch your breath. They use some different formations too, like an Ole Miss, but they keep their receivers in their for the whole series."

What about USM?

"I just have not really had a chance to see them play, but coach has been keeping in contact with me. I am trying to get down there for a game so I can see their offense."

What is going on with Alabama? They were not mentioned as a team that is being consistent with their recruitment?

"I do not know. Coach Davis not been calling me the last few weeks."

Is that disappointing since Vincent had early interest in the Tide?

"Not really, honestly. I guess they thought I could not talk because my mouth was wired shut when I broke my jaw. I do not know. They still write a lot. They just have not been calling like Ole Miss and State and Tennessee."



Yancy Porter is the Recruiting Analyst for the state of Mississippi and can be reached at
yporter@scout.com





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