Five-star running back Trey Sanders is one of the nation’s top overall prospects. He’s ranked as the top running back prospect in the country. With those types of accolades, one would think that Sanders doesn’t have much room for improvement. Sanders found out during a recent unofficial visit to Texas that there’s still plenty for him to learn.
In sitting down with Texas running backs coach Stan Drayton on the visit, the two went over Sanders’ film and Sanders was shown things he can do to improve his game.
“The stuff he teaches me, he took me to a film room and showed me my highlight. I thought my highlight was pretty good. I don’t know, I thought it was good but he showed me everything, how I could have made a play faster, how I could have made the touchdown a lot quicker, things like that,” Sanders said. “I wasn’t even thinking about that stuff. I was like ‘Dang, man,’ and I thought I was good. But I scored! I thought that’s all that mattered. He’s always critiquing the little things, and I like that.”
Drayton has been recruiting Sanders for several months and the two have developed a strong bond. It’s that relationship that has Texas squarely in the mix for the IMG Academy standout.
“Going to Texas, the thing that stands out is coach Drayton. Me and coach Drayton have built a relationship, it’s almost like a father-son relationship,” Sanders said. “I’ve seen his resume, seen what he can do with backs. It’s nothing but greatness with him.”
The Texas staff has made Sanders a priority, and Sanders said he’s hoping he can get back to Austin at some point this summer, and then possibly again later in the year for an official visit.
“Texas is recruiting me really hard. I get a text from Tim Beck, coach Drayton, Bryan Carrington, just the whole coaching staff every morning checking on me,” Sanders said.
A one-time Alabama commitment, Sanders said he’s keeping an open mind at this stage of the recruiting process. He does plan on trimming his list to about five schools in the near future, and he said Texas has a good chance of surviving the cut.
“I feel like Texas has a high chance of making my top five,” Sanders said.
The competition for the dynamic running back will be tough, but the Longhorns have put themselves in a position where they have a shot with the 6-1, 205-pound Sanders. Schools like Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Florida State are heavily involved, but Sanders said there’s a lot to like about the Texas program.
“What stands out, this year, coach Tom Herman, he went in there and he didn’t have his recruits and they had a great year,” Sanders said. “Just coming in, had the number three recruiting class. Like last year, Georgia had the number two recruiting class and you saw the difference that made, they went to the national championship. And I feel like with coach Drayton, the sky is the limit. It’s just special.”
OB will have more from Sanders in this week's War Room.
