Fresno State Athletics
Sanders Declares For NFL Draft
1/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 19, 2005
FRESNO, Calif. - Head football coach Pat Hill announced today that two-time All-WAC strong safety James Sanders has declared himself eligible for the 2005 National Football League Draft and will not be returning to the Bulldogs.
"James has been a tremendous player for us," Hill said. " He did a great job for us both on and off the field. He is a fine young man who has worked very hard and been a great representative of the Bulldog program for the last four years. He is a good student and is very close to finishing his degree. He made a commitment to me that he will return to finish his education and I believe he will. We wish him the best of luck in his NFL career."
He is the first Bulldog to leave early for the NFL Draft since 1994 when Trent Dilfer became the sixth overall pick of the first round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Sanders had 63 tackles in 2004, third-best on the team, with three interceptions, 6.5 tackles for losses, two sacks, forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles. He added a blocked kick. Sanders emerged in the 2002 season, when he earned first-team freshman All-America honors after finishing second on the team in tackles with 82. He spearheaded the Bulldog defense, which led the WAC in nearly every statistical category and ranked as high as No. 4 nationally in pass efficiency defense.
Sanders finished his career with 238 tackles, 24.5 tackles for losses, seven sacks, 18 pass deflections and seven interceptions. He was selected first-team All-WAC in 2003 and 2004, the first Bulldog defensive back to be selected All-WAC in consecutive years.
