OXFORD — Vince Sanders said the words Friday that makes all of the receivers on the University of Mississippi football team very happy.
“The ball is going to be in the air a lot,” the former Noxubee County High School standout said at Ole Miss’ annual media day.
Sanders only hopes he puts himself in position to be on the receiving end of some of those throws. Who will be throwing the football — former East Mississippi Community College All-American Bo Wallace, Barry Brunetti, or Randall Mackey — remains to be seen. But the consensus is that the Rebels, who went 2-10 last season, will open it up a lot more this season in first-year head coach Hugh Freeze’s system.
That’s more than OK with Sanders, a SuperPrep All-American at Noxubee County who was the No. 1 player in the state of Mississippi, and the No. 14 wide receiver in the nation by SuperPrep. But Sanders redshirted in 2010, his first at Ole Miss, and then made four catches for 96 yards in the Grove Bowl, Ole Miss’ annual spring game. The success didn’t translate, though, as he caught only 10 passes for 110 yards last season. He caught five passes for 89 yards in the Grove Bowl, and entered training camp listed as the No. 2 man at flanker.
“I had a good spring and when it came close to the season, I dropped in the depth chart and I didn’t get too much playing time until the end of the season,” Sanders said. “I just had to keep believing in myself and keep myself pumped, and I think I did a good job of doing that.”
Sanders said the Rebels’ struggles last season made it even tougher for him to deal with not playing. He said he has learned how to be patient and to be ready to capitalize on his chance to play, which he hopes will come this season.
Ole Miss wide receivers coach Grant Heard feels Sanders has the tools to play a variety of roles.
“Vince had a great spring,” Heard said. “He started off slow, but as he got more comfortable with the offense he started making some plays for us. I expect him definitely to be in the mix for playing time this season.”
Heard said it is a good problem to have so many receivers competing for playing time, and that the competition will help keep all of the players focused. He said Sanders is just like any other player in that confidence will help him take advantage of his opportunities.
“I think he is full of confidence because he feels better about what he is doing and what I want him to get done,” Heard said. “Hopefully, the confidence he got from this spring carries over to this camp.”
Heard said Sanders is physical and is not afraid “to mix it up” in there, which bodes well for him to earn playing time.
“I think more than anything he will be hungry to get on the field,” Heard said. “I think he really wants to get on there and show people what he can do.”
Sanders said he is bigger and stronger and primed to make his mark. With Wallace, who led EMCC to the NJCAA national title, and Brunetti vying for time at quarterback, Sanders said Ole Miss’ offense is going to be like “night and day” compared to the 2011 version. He said the Rebels have the weapons and the system this season to go an entire drive without running the ball, which can make any receiver hungry to get on the field.
Sanders believes it is the right time for him to step up and for the Rebels to change their losing ways.
“Coming from high school and being highly recruited and coming in and not really playing, it was hard,” Sanders said. “But I feel with the offense that coach Freeze has brought in that I will have my chance to show off talents more.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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