James Sanders Named to Scripps/FWAA Freshman All-America Team

Jan. 9, 2003

FRESNO, Calif. - Freshman strong safety James Sanders has been named to the 2002 Scripps/Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team, announced today.

Sanders, a native of Porterville, Calif., was named to the team after playing in all 14 games this year, starting 10. He finished second on the Bulldogs in tackles with 82 and recorded nine tackles for loss. He also picked off two passes, one of which came during Fresno State's 30-21 victory over Georgia Tech in the Silicon Valley Football Classic.

Sanders moved into the starting strong safety spot when Bryce McGill switched to the linebacker position prior to the Bulldogs' game against Rice. In his first start, Sanders racked up a career-high 12 tackles. He was one of only two players from a non-BCS school to earn Freshman All-America honors. Louisville kick returner Broderick Clark was the other.

"This is a fantastic and well-deserved honor for James," head coach Pat Hill said. "His ability to come in as a freshman and produce immediately is a big reason why our team succeeded like it did this year. James is going to be a big factor on our defense for the next three years."

A panel of 12 FWAA writers representing each of the major conferences and independents nominated and selected the team at the conclusion of the regular season.

Fresno State went 9-5 (6-2 WAC) this year and won its first bowl game since 1992 when it defeated the Yellow Jackets. The Bulldogs return 15 starters on offense and defense next year after finishing this year ranked 31st in the ESPN/USA Today coaches'

OFFENSE                               DEFENSEQB Brad Smith, Missouri               DL Loren Howard, NorthwesternRB Maurice Clarett, Ohio State        DL Haloti Ngata, OregonRB T.A. McClendon, N.C. State         DL Rodrigue Wright, TexasWR Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh       LB Darryl Blackstock, VirginiaWR Mike Williams, USC                 LB Spencer Havner, UCLATE Heath Miller, Virginia             LB John Kerr, IndianaOL Andrew Whitworth, LSU              LB Freddie Roach, AlabamaOL Winston Justice, USC               CB Steve Gregory, SyracuseOL Mike Degory, Florida               CB Justin Miller, ClemsonOL Richie Incognito, Nebraska          S J.J. Billingsley, ColoradoOL D'Brickshaw Ferguson, Virginia      S James Sanders, Fresno State
SPECIAL TEAMS P Greg Johnson, VanderbiltPR Jeremy Bloom, Colorado K David Abdul, PittsburghKR Broderick Clark, Louisville

Fresno State Athletics

James Sanders Named to Scripps/FWAA Freshman All-America Team

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