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

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.

Looking ahead to 2012 football class

The prep football season is almost at our doorsteps, but in this day and age it’s never too early to look ahead to the following season.

With that in mind, it should be noted that four players from Manatee County have been listed among the top 50 college prospects in the country for the class of 2012 by the publication Friday Night Football Florida.

They all play defense and not surprisingly two play for Manatee High and two for Southeast. All have a good combination of size and speed.

Manatee High’s representatives are linebacker Darius White and defensive back
Clinton Heaven,who has been offered a football scholarship to South Carolina by head coach Steve Spurrier.

The Southeast guys are defensive tackle DeAngelo Dawes and cornerback
Brian Poole Jr., who ran a sub 4.4 second forty-yard dash at the recent Friday Night Lights camp, which made quite an impression on the University of Florida coaching staff.

The publication also lists head coach Joe Kinnan and his assistants as the fifth best coaching staff in the state. Ironically, the top rated staff is Tampa Plant led by Robert Wiener. These clubs will go into the season as the top two teams in Class 5A.