Ace Sanders won’t be confused with Alshon Jeffery this fall.
At 5-foot-7, 175 pounds, he pales in comparison to the 6-4, 213-pound Jeffery, who left USC early and is a projected first-round selection in this month’s NFL draft.
And Sanders won’t even be taking Jeffery’s old spot on the outside, instead preparing to lineup as a slot receiver.
Still, the super quick rising junior from Bradenton, Fla., is working this spring to become the new go-to guy for starting quarterback Connor Shaw when the 2012 season begins in August.
“Ace is our best receiver right now. There’s no question about it,” USC coach Steve Spurrier said Saturday. “He’s going to have a big year for us. I’m convinced of that.”
Sanders isn’t trying to be the next Jeffery, who left as one of the greatest receivers in Gamecock history. He’s just hoping to give Shaw a reliable target who can get open and do something with the ball after the catch.
“It’s hard to replace Alshon, somebody with that type of talent,” Sanders said. “You’ve just got to find somebody new and make that work so everybody’s trying to contribute to the team as much as they can.”
Sanders’ ascension to the next playmaker for USC started in the weight room during winter workouts.
“I didn’t just let it come to me, he said about being the No. 1 WR. “We had guys in the weight room pushing us. They believe in me and I believe in myself.”
And Spurrier thinks that, despite Sanders’ height, he could be the best option for one of the Head Ball Coach’s favorite plays.
“Ace has really physically improved his body,” Spurrier said. “We told him the other night we ought to throw the jump ball to him. He might be 5-7, but he can come down with it, maybe better than anybody we got right now.”
With his exceptional size and hands, Jeffery was a terror for defenders in the red zone – and Sanders hopes to take that role.
But he isn’t the only one trying to prove himself this spring. Rising sophomore Damiere Byrd was recently moved to the outside in hopes of getting the short speedster open deep downfield, but he’s had trouble holding onto passes in practice. Two-sport standout Bruce Ellington was reliable last year, but he’s been battling a decision whether to play both hoops and football, although it appears he’s leaning toward playing both again. DeAngelo Smith and Lamar Scruggs are also competing for spots while redshirt freshman Shamir Jeffery, Alshon’s younger brother, is dealing with a knee injury.
Right now, Sanders has the most experience. He caught 54 passes for 699 yards and four touchdowns in his first two seasons with USC – and finished last year as the second-leading receiver on the team. He’s also the top returning punt returner.
“You can tell he’s gotten stronger, faster, bigger – all the things you kind of look for – and more confident,” USC receivers coach Steve Spurrier said. “Last year, two years ago, it took him a while to really feel his way through it. Now you can really see him moving fast and confident. He looks really, really good.”
link: http://www.independe...impressing-spu/
At 5-foot-7, 175 pounds, he pales in comparison to the 6-4, 213-pound Jeffery, who left USC early and is a projected first-round selection in this month’s NFL draft.
And Sanders won’t even be taking Jeffery’s old spot on the outside, instead preparing to lineup as a slot receiver.
Still, the super quick rising junior from Bradenton, Fla., is working this spring to become the new go-to guy for starting quarterback Connor Shaw when the 2012 season begins in August.
“Ace is our best receiver right now. There’s no question about it,” USC coach Steve Spurrier said Saturday. “He’s going to have a big year for us. I’m convinced of that.”
Sanders isn’t trying to be the next Jeffery, who left as one of the greatest receivers in Gamecock history. He’s just hoping to give Shaw a reliable target who can get open and do something with the ball after the catch.
“It’s hard to replace Alshon, somebody with that type of talent,” Sanders said. “You’ve just got to find somebody new and make that work so everybody’s trying to contribute to the team as much as they can.”
Sanders’ ascension to the next playmaker for USC started in the weight room during winter workouts.
“I didn’t just let it come to me, he said about being the No. 1 WR. “We had guys in the weight room pushing us. They believe in me and I believe in myself.”
And Spurrier thinks that, despite Sanders’ height, he could be the best option for one of the Head Ball Coach’s favorite plays.
“Ace has really physically improved his body,” Spurrier said. “We told him the other night we ought to throw the jump ball to him. He might be 5-7, but he can come down with it, maybe better than anybody we got right now.”
With his exceptional size and hands, Jeffery was a terror for defenders in the red zone – and Sanders hopes to take that role.
But he isn’t the only one trying to prove himself this spring. Rising sophomore Damiere Byrd was recently moved to the outside in hopes of getting the short speedster open deep downfield, but he’s had trouble holding onto passes in practice. Two-sport standout Bruce Ellington was reliable last year, but he’s been battling a decision whether to play both hoops and football, although it appears he’s leaning toward playing both again. DeAngelo Smith and Lamar Scruggs are also competing for spots while redshirt freshman Shamir Jeffery, Alshon’s younger brother, is dealing with a knee injury.
Right now, Sanders has the most experience. He caught 54 passes for 699 yards and four touchdowns in his first two seasons with USC – and finished last year as the second-leading receiver on the team. He’s also the top returning punt returner.
“You can tell he’s gotten stronger, faster, bigger – all the things you kind of look for – and more confident,” USC receivers coach Steve Spurrier said. “Last year, two years ago, it took him a while to really feel his way through it. Now you can really see him moving fast and confident. He looks really, really good.”
link: http://www.independe...impressing-spu/
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