Ace Sanders electrifies a nation with dazzling punt return

Ace Sanders had arguably the best highlight reel in last Saturday's full college football slate in providing a key spark that helped ignite South Carolina to its biggest victory of the season.

Check out Sanders electrifying punt return
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=vIPmdEVVo-k

 

For his scintillating 70-yard punt return for a touchdown that played a huge role in South Carolina’s 35-7 triumph over previously undefeated Georgia, Sanders was named the co-SEC Special Teams Player of The week.

It was the second career touchdown for the 5-8. 175 pound Manatee High product, who is ranked first in the SEC and 15^th nationally averaging 15.47 yards per return. The junior is third in the nation in total punt return yardage with 263 yards (min 1.2 returns per game).

“I didn’t field it cleanly and dropped it and had to scramble to pick it up. I saw the lane open up and tried to hit it as fast as I could,” Sanders said in his post game press conference. “I think I probably provide a pretty big spark (on punt returns) because I can see when I am about to go out there (to field a punt) the whole team is behind me and just tell me to put it in the endzone ‘we know you can do it.’

“I do my best and when I actually do it I see how the stadium erupts and the players respond and they just come out and start playing and that’s when I know special teams is pretty big part of the team.”

It was the second punt return for a touchdown in Sander’s career and his fourth TD this season with his three others coming on pass receptions. Last season he returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown against East Carolina and has nine career TDs.

The victory propelled South Carolina to third in the AP and USA Today Coaches polls marking its highest ranking since 1984 when the Gamecocks were second with a 9-0 record.

But South Carolina has two big back to back challenges coming up. The Gamecocks face AP No. 9 LSU Saturday and then travel to Florida to play the fourth ranked Gators.

 

 

    

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=vIPmdEVVo-k

Taggart deserves a pass: What would Joe have said??

Our beloved Willie Taggart has found himself in a little hot water, but does he really deserve it?
His Western Kentucky football team is playing Kentucky Saturday and Taggart got upset because he saw so many students on his campus wearing Kentucky apparel.

Taggart tweeted, “They probably couldn’t get into UK.”

The former Manatee High great later apologized and said he was just miffed because WKU students who wear UK apparel are not showing allegiance to his school.

Feeling here is Taggart deserves a pass. He runs a clean program and has given a lot of kids who were headed for trouble a chance.

But here is a better question:

What would Joe Kinnan say if he saw a bunch of students wearing Southeast apparel during game week against the Seminoles?

Could we safely assume whatever he said would make Taggart’s comments seem rather mundane?

 

Manatee's Ace Sanders little big man for South Carolina

Ace Sanders primed for big season

At 5-8, Ace Sanders is one of the smallest receivers in the SEC, but he has become a big part of South Carolina's offense.

Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier thought so much of Sanders that he took the former Manatee High standout with him to the SEC media day festivities and allowed him to give his assessment on the team's passing game.

“The coaches handed the reins over to me,” Sanders said at the SEC media day. “I look over the group to make sure they know where they’re going. I have to make sure they’re on the same level as me.”

The junior is the top returning threat from the Gamecocks passing game and is the only returnee with 20 or more receptions. His presence will be even more important this season with All SEC receiver Alshon Jeffery now in the NFL.

A lot of people at South Carolina, incuding quite a few of his teammates are predicitng a break through season for Sanders based on his speed, elusiveness, soft hands and intelligence. Sanders runs a 4.3 second 40-yard dash.

Sanders has added 20 pounds, mostly pure muscle and appears primed for big things this season also with his kick return skills.

"Ace has developed into a real top-flight receiver. He’s going to have a good year," Spurrier predicted.”

Last season Sanders was the  second on the Gamecock with 29 receptions for 383 yards (13.2 avg) and caught two TD passes. He was South Carolina's primary punt returner with 16 returns for 149 yards (9.3 avg) and one TD.

Ace Sanders electrifying punt return could lead to bigger things

Is it time for Ace Sanders to have a break out game?

South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier has been hinting along those lines believing the former Manatee High standout is coming into his own.

Sanders showed some of that talent that Spurrier coveted when he recruiter the receiver after his final season at Manatee in 2010.

The ole ball coach is also looking for some receivers. South Carolina quarterbacks have completed 21 passes in their two games this season and 10 have gone to Alshon Jeffery.

Sanders has four receptions for 46 yards, including at TD catch against East Carolina in the Gamecocks season opener. He also had what has been described as a simply amazing 68-yard punt return for a touchdown in that game.

Everyone is saying he looks faster and more confident and needs to have the ball in his hands more. Spurrier has shown he is the kind of guy who will do that if he believes in a player.

Last week in South Carolina's 45-42 victory over Georgia, Sanders caught 3 passes for 43 yards, including a 30-yard reception.

South Carolina is home this Saturday against Navy in a game scheduled to kickoff on ESPN2 at 6 p.m.

Sanders gets first collegiate touchdowns

Ace Sanders finally got the one big thing that was missing in his young college football career Saturday when South Carolina crushed Troy 69-24.

The former Manatee High standout was one of the key pass receivers for South Carolina, who had not caught a touchdown pass all season. He ended that disappointment against Troy turning his only two receptions of the day into touchdowns.

Sanders caught a career long 51-yard pass from Stephen Garcia in the first quarter that he turned into a touchdown to give the Gamecocks a 28-0 lead. Sanders then put the final points on the board for South Carolina when he caught a 15 yard TD pass from backup Seth Strickland with 2:53 left in the game.

Sanders also had five yards on a run and caught one punt that he was unable to return. For the season, the 5-7, 166 pound true freshman is third on the team with 21 receptions and is averaging 13.9 yards per catch.