Post by WVUfanPHILLY on Aug 20, 2007 14:08:01 GMT -5
MORGANTOWN — Jock Sanders admittedly had heard about Noel Devine before the two became football teammates at West Virginia University this summer.
While Sanders was a three-year all-state runner/receiver at St. Petersburg (Fla.), Catholic High, the widely publicized Devine was breaking records down I-75 at North Fort Myers (Fla.) High.
Both were bent on battling for playing time this year behind Steve Slaton, WVU’s consensus All-America tailback who has been tutoring both Floridians. He’s also a Big Brother to Devine.
“Yes, I was anxious to compete against him,” said Sanders, who stands 5-8 and weighs 185. “Everybody was like they knew Devine was going to West Virginia, and they turned out to be right.
“So I decided that coming here was going to make me better, just like I’d make him better because of the competition.”
A media type recalled in his presence that two years ago Jason Gwaltney was a more highly publicized running back recruit from New York than Slaton was. But Slaton wound up earning the starting job and the other guy is gone.
“Well, I feel like I’m the underdog (for the No. 2 tailback spot),” Sanders said. “But me and him work together as teammates. So there’s no animosity between us.
“Don’t get me wrong, we compete hard every day. But we help each other like we’re a team.”
Word emerging from practice sessions, closed to the media, has indicated that Sanders at times is just as impressive as Devine, who has made it clear that he wants to be treated just like all other players. He wants no special treatment.
Slaton has been teaching both freshmen about the spread offense and the program as a whole. He also has said good things about veteran running backs Ed Collington and Eddie Davis, both of whom are in the mix for No. 2, too.
He declines to play favorites. He insists that he’s confident any of the four would be able to do the job.
“We both came in just working hard,” Sanders said. “So the coaches are going to have to make a big decision. But if (Devine) is the No. 2 or I’m the No. 2, it doesn’t matter. We’re both going to play hard.”
Indeed, the two not only are proving to be outstanding prospects, but both also seem to have a great attitude. Each made a big impression last Friday evening when being interviewed by reporters for the first time.
Sanders thinks the biggest difference between college and high school football is speed.
“The speed,” he repeated. “That’s about it.”
He said his high school coach, Dan Mancuso, told him to just stay strong and help the others. He’s trying to follow that advice
Sanders rushed for 1,600 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior and 1,200 yards and 24 scores as a senior. He also returned punts and kickoffs.
Devine, who’s 5-8 and 170, set school and Lee County career rushing record with 6,842 yards and 92 touchdowns. He made the Florida Class 5-A all-state team three years.
Sanders obviously prefers tailback. But he said if moved to receiver, it would be OK with him. That would mean making adjustments, though.
“I just take it day by day,” he said. “They took it slow at first teaching (newcomers), then stepped it up. So I guess that helped us.
He said all the running backs pretty much stick together and even talk about what they’re supposed to do when off the field.
“No doubt Noel wants the job and I want the job,” Sanders concluded. “We compete hard every day. But, as I said, we still help each other.”
Contact The Inter-Mountain at our two locations.
520 Railroad Ave., PO Box 1339
Elkins, WV 26241
Phone: 304.636.2127
Fax: 304.636.8252
40 East Main Street, PO Box 2076
Buckhannon, WV 26201
Phone: 304.472.8302
Fax: 304.472.6416
While Sanders was a three-year all-state runner/receiver at St. Petersburg (Fla.), Catholic High, the widely publicized Devine was breaking records down I-75 at North Fort Myers (Fla.) High.
Both were bent on battling for playing time this year behind Steve Slaton, WVU’s consensus All-America tailback who has been tutoring both Floridians. He’s also a Big Brother to Devine.
“Yes, I was anxious to compete against him,” said Sanders, who stands 5-8 and weighs 185. “Everybody was like they knew Devine was going to West Virginia, and they turned out to be right.
“So I decided that coming here was going to make me better, just like I’d make him better because of the competition.”
A media type recalled in his presence that two years ago Jason Gwaltney was a more highly publicized running back recruit from New York than Slaton was. But Slaton wound up earning the starting job and the other guy is gone.
“Well, I feel like I’m the underdog (for the No. 2 tailback spot),” Sanders said. “But me and him work together as teammates. So there’s no animosity between us.
“Don’t get me wrong, we compete hard every day. But we help each other like we’re a team.”
Word emerging from practice sessions, closed to the media, has indicated that Sanders at times is just as impressive as Devine, who has made it clear that he wants to be treated just like all other players. He wants no special treatment.
Slaton has been teaching both freshmen about the spread offense and the program as a whole. He also has said good things about veteran running backs Ed Collington and Eddie Davis, both of whom are in the mix for No. 2, too.
He declines to play favorites. He insists that he’s confident any of the four would be able to do the job.
“We both came in just working hard,” Sanders said. “So the coaches are going to have to make a big decision. But if (Devine) is the No. 2 or I’m the No. 2, it doesn’t matter. We’re both going to play hard.”
Indeed, the two not only are proving to be outstanding prospects, but both also seem to have a great attitude. Each made a big impression last Friday evening when being interviewed by reporters for the first time.
Sanders thinks the biggest difference between college and high school football is speed.
“The speed,” he repeated. “That’s about it.”
He said his high school coach, Dan Mancuso, told him to just stay strong and help the others. He’s trying to follow that advice
Sanders rushed for 1,600 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior and 1,200 yards and 24 scores as a senior. He also returned punts and kickoffs.
Devine, who’s 5-8 and 170, set school and Lee County career rushing record with 6,842 yards and 92 touchdowns. He made the Florida Class 5-A all-state team three years.
Sanders obviously prefers tailback. But he said if moved to receiver, it would be OK with him. That would mean making adjustments, though.
“I just take it day by day,” he said. “They took it slow at first teaching (newcomers), then stepped it up. So I guess that helped us.
He said all the running backs pretty much stick together and even talk about what they’re supposed to do when off the field.
“No doubt Noel wants the job and I want the job,” Sanders concluded. “We compete hard every day. But, as I said, we still help each other.”
Contact The Inter-Mountain at our two locations.
520 Railroad Ave., PO Box 1339
Elkins, WV 26241
Phone: 304.636.2127
Fax: 304.636.8252
40 East Main Street, PO Box 2076
Buckhannon, WV 26201
Phone: 304.472.8302
Fax: 304.472.6416
