Arkansas LB Sanders to skip bowl, enter draft

Arkansas junior linebacker Drew Sanders advised ESPN on Tuesday that he’ll be coming into the NFL draft.

Sanders initiatives as one of many draft’s prime linebacker prospects, as he is No. 17 total on Mel Kiper’s Massive Board and ranks as Kiper’s top-ranked inside linebacker prospect.

Sanders advised ESPN that he is not going to participate in Liberty Bowl in opposition to Kansas on Dec. 28 and can head to California this week to start coaching for the NFL mix.

“Soccer is not a lifetime sport; it is a once-in-a-lifetime sport,” Sanders mentioned in a telephone interview with ESPN. “I’ve loved enjoying in school. It is all the time been a dream for me to play within the NFL, ever since I can keep in mind. There’s a chance for me to take, and I wish to take it.”

Sanders’ determination caps a precipitous ascent to the higher areas of the NFL draft, as he transferred to Arkansas from Alabama this 12 months and surged into the highlight.

The 6-foot-5, 240-pounder began three video games over two seasons for the Crimson Tide and instantly flashed star potential upon arriving at Arkansas, as his 9.5 sacks have been second within the SEC to solely Alabama’s Will Anderson. Sanders additionally completed fourth within the SEC in tackles (103) and racked up 13.5 tackles for loss.

ESPN NFL draft analyst Matt Miller initiatives the versatile Sanders as a prime 30 draft prospect, with Kiper rating him forward of Iowa’s Jack Campbell, Oregon’s Noah Sewell and Clemson’s Trenton Simpson.

Sanders arrived in Fayetteville in January and instantly impressed the Arkansas teaching employees. He earned a beginning function and instantly carried out, accumulating 5 sacks and 27 tackles within the first three video games of 2022.

He credited Arkansas coach Sam Pittman, defensive coordinator Barry Odom and linebacker coach Michael Scherer for the chance and positioning him to showcase his ability set.

“To me, the one method to get higher at soccer is enjoying soccer,” Sanders mentioned. “I’ve by no means doubted my abilities. Arkansas has given me a chance for me to point out my abilities and get higher by enjoying and offering the chance to be versatile.”

Sanders is the son of Mitch Sanders, a highschool coach for 25 years in each Oregon and Texas. He mentioned his son had been speaking about enjoying three years of faculty soccer and going to the NFL draft since he was a sophomore in highschool.

That seemed unlikely when he suffered a damaged hand halfway by his sophomore 12 months at Alabama after enjoying important snaps the primary 5 video games. Upon returning to the lineup, a scheme change restricted Sanders’ snaps, which led to his switch.

“We’re Arkansas followers by and thru, however we nonetheless love Alabama,” Mitch Sanders mentioned. “We’ve zero onerous emotions. It was a terrific expertise.”

He mentioned his son’s draft declaration was “bittersweet” as a result of he and his spouse, Shelly, know that Drew loved Fayetteville a lot. However Mitch Sanders mentioned enjoying professional soccer is the end result of a dream for his son that started with him attending coaches conferences for his father’s groups all the way in which again to kindergarten.

“it’s totally surreal, and also you’re simply joyful for him as a result of it has been his dream without end,” Mitch Sanders mentioned. “To see him have the chance to stay out his childhood dream is fairly superior as dad and mom.”