Georgia TE set to visit State

Mississippi State has already sent out numerous offers this year for the class of 2009, and one area where the Bulldogs are trying to add depth is at the tight end slot and Duluth (Ga.) Northview athlete Brock Sanders is one of the prospects getting an opportunity to fill that role. While he has a full schedule this spring, forcing him to miss junior days, he will get a chance to see State before summer arrives. What does the 6-foot-3, 220 pounder think about the Bulldogs?

"Mississippi State is my favorite right now, because they offered," he said. "I haven't been there, but we are trying to schedule a time to go."

Although missing State's junior days last weekend and on March 1, he plans to attend their spring game and will also camp at MSU this summer. He camped at Vanderbilt last summer and attended the U.S. Army All-American Combine in January.

While State is Sanders' first offer, East Carolina, Dartmouth, Yale, Vanderbilt, Michigan State, UCF, and Southern Miss are all recruiting him. State holds the early lead, but several things will be on his list while making he rounds over the next year.

"I like a good atmosphere," he said. "The location is important and the prestige of the team is pretty important.

"I'd like a bigger school, and I wouldn't want to go too much out of the South. I'd like to stay in the South, but if the situation presented itself, I would definitely go out of the South, but it is my preference to stay here."

Although he has family in the Pacific Time Zone, he has been reared with Southern roots, and prefers to stay in this part of the country. His dad, Eric Sanders, starred on the offensive line at Nevada - Reno, before spending 12 years in the NFL, six with the Detroit Lions and six with the Atlanta Falcons.

The younger Sanders plays offensive tackle and defensive end in high school, but is being recruited at the next level as a tight end.

"I like to use my speed to my advantage," he commented. "This year I was only 200 pounds during the season, so I have put on some weight in the off season. My strength is just my quickness off the ball and my aggressiveness.

"I like Antonio Gates as a tight end. Antonio Gates is a basketball player too, and I used to play basketball. I like how he catches everything and he's real aggressive."

Sanders should have no problems qualifying academically, boasting a 3.5 GPA while focusing on Honors and Advanced Placement courses. He will take the ACT for the first time in May.