100 in 100: Emmanuel Sanders (76 of 100)

by Drew Kerr on Mar 28, 2010 1:00 PM PDT in 100 in 100 (2010)

24 DAYS UNTIL THE DRAFT...

Emmanuel Sanders is a wide receiver that played for the SMU Mustangs. Sanders has been one of the best players for the Mustangs in the last couple of years. Last year, his senior year, was his best. The best game of his career came when the Mustangs faced off against Washington State (2009). He caught 18 passes for 178 yards in that game.

Sanders was an instant contributor from day one at SMU. His freshman year in '06, he was able to bring in 46 passes for 605 yards with 9 touchdowns (the most ever by a freshman at SMU). He was named honorable mention for the Freshman All-Freshman at the wide receiver position as well as kick returner.

In Sanders' sophomore year, he started 12 games and had a phenomenal season hauling in 74 passes for 889 yards with another 9 touchdowns to add to the previous years total. The 74 receptions was the third most by any receiver in SMU's history. Most folks thought that he was going to go in to his junior year and break the school record. There were a lot of reasons at this point for Mustang fans to be excited.

However, 2008 was a bit of a drop off in production and somewhat of a disappointing year for Sanders. He still had a decent yearthough and managed to bring in 67 passes for 958 yards. It was somewhat of a plateau from the year he had before. He again brought in 9 touchdowns that season. Sanders did however become the first player in SMU's history to have three consecutive seasons with 600+ yards that year.

The SMU wide out decided to return for his senior year and he is one of the few that made the right decision to do so. He finished his collegiate career with a stellar season by catching 98 passes (the most in school history), for 1,339 yards with 7 touchdowns. He leaves SMU with 285 career receptions, 3,791 yards, and 34 touchdowns.

Below, we'll take a look at some of Sanders' other accomplishments.

This is a short video that showcases some of Sanders' highlights in 2008. This success carried over in to the 2009 season and he only got better from what we see in this feed.

AWARDS AND HONORS:

2009 First Team All-C-USA

CAREER STATS:

Stats Overview	Receiving					Rushing					Fumbles
YEAR	REC	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	ATT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	FUM	LST
2006	46	605	13.2	56	9	2	6	3.0	4	0	0	0
2007	74	889	12.0	54	9	6	28	4.7	8	0	0	0
2008	67	958	14.3	77	9	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
2009	98	1339	13.7	75	7	1	6	6.0	6	0	0	0

2009 Regular Season Game Log			Receiving					Rushing					Fumbles
DATE	OPP	RESULT	REC	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	ATT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	FUM	LST
9/5	Stephen F. Austin	W 31-23	8	66	8.3	21	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
9/12	@UAB	W 35-33	9	148	16.4	44	1	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
9/19	@Washington State	L 30-27	18	178	9.9	45	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
10/3	@TCU	L 39-14	8	74	9.3	34	1	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
10/10	East Carolina	W 28-21	4	62	15.5	21	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
10/17	Navy	L 38-35	6	53	8.8	17	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
10/24	@Houston	L 38-15	6	47	7.8	17	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
10/31	@Tulsa	W 27-13	5	79	15.8	35	0	1	6	6.0	6	0	0	0
11/7	Rice	W 31-28	6	136	22.7	37	1	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
11/14	UTEP	W 35-31	7	134	19.1	37	2	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
11/21	@Marshall	L 34-31	8	94	11.8	43	1	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
11/28	Tulane	W 26-21	6	144	24.0	75	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0

2009 Postseason Game Log

Receiving

Rushing

Fumbles

BOWL

OPP

RESULT

REC

YDS

AVG

LNG

ATT

YDS

AVG

LNG

FUM

LST

SHERATON HAWAII BOWL

Nevada

W 45-10

124

17.7

0.0

SUMMARY AND PROJECTION:

Sanders elevated his stock a bit at the combine a few weeks ago with top performances in the 40-yard dash (4.41), vertical jump (39.5), broad jump (10'6"), 3-cone drill (6.60), and the 20-yard shuttle (4.10). The combine is perfect for a guy like Sanders that doesn't have a ton to lose and everything to gain. I believe that Sanders could end up being a diamond in the rough in this years draft. I expect to see him starting somewhere in a couple of years after proving himself in the kick return game and the limited time as he will get to play on offense. Sanders is the type of player that doesn't watch opportunity pass him by. I fully expect him to capatilize on his chances. Some people have him slotted all the way in to the 7th Round and others even have him going undrafted, but I expect him to go a lot higher than that. Sanders measured at 5'11" and weighed in at 186 at the combine.

Possibilities -- 5th Round: Picks 132-169, 6th Round: Picks 170-207.

For more on 100 in 100, click on the link below:

http://www.ninersnation.com/section/100-in-100-2010

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Comments

wide receiver

I’ve got a post on a small part of this tomorrow, but the 49ers wide receiver position is an intriguing one. With Bruce retiring and Battle gone, I strongly suspect the 49ers will try and grab a wide receiver at some point in the draft. However, I’d imagine it would be later on since they’ve got the young starters they want in place.

by David Fucillo on Mar 28, 2010 1:27 PM PDT reply actions

Agree

With Crabtree, Morgan, Hill, and Jones being basically the only receivers that saw action, I suspect we’ll draft another WR. Whether it’s high or low I’m not sure though. I could see them going with one 2nd or 3rd round depending on what they get in the 1st. But they could wait until later for a guy like Sanders, Williams, or possibly Barnes.

Too many freaks, not enough circuses.

by Drew Kerr on Mar 28, 2010 2:37 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd be surprised if we drafted a WR before the 3rd

I’ll be surprised if we don’t end up drafting at least one WR and maybe bringing in some UDFAs.

Member of the legendary David Carr thread, 6 March 2010

by smileyman on Mar 28, 2010 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions

I won't be completely shocked if it's a guy like Demaryius Thomas...

…but I don’t expect it to happen.

One Christmas, I got a battery with a note saying, "toy not included".

by Drew Kerr on Mar 28, 2010 2:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Good point

if Thomas is there at #49 we’d probably grab him

Member of the legendary David Carr thread, 6 March 2010

by smileyman on Mar 28, 2010 3:11 PM PDT up reply actions

I hope not

Not a fan of using our second round pick on a guy coming back from a major leg injury who was difficult to get a read on in college

As for Sanders, I’d really like he we grabbed him in the 5th-6th and had him return kicks and (hopefully) beat out Hill and Jones for the slot receiver spot at some point.

by HaloFanInDC on Mar 28, 2010 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions

Broken ankle isn't a major leg injury

It it was a blown out knee it’d be a different story.

Member of the legendary David Carr thread, 6 March 2010

by smileyman on Mar 28, 2010 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions

ya beat me to it

I wasn’t sure whether it was his foot or his ankle though

"God tells me he can get me out of this mess, but he's pretty sure you're fucked."-Braveheart

by Camraman926 on Mar 28, 2010 4:37 PM PDT up reply actions

It was his foot

Gore broke his ankle and came back in the same season and did just fine.

Broken bones don’t have nearly the impact on performance as do other injuries. The only worry with a broken bone is that it heals weaker, so if you get hit in that same exact spot it might be easier to break again.

Member of the legendary David Carr thread, 6 March 2010

by smileyman on Mar 28, 2010 4:47 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah

Broken bones never worry me unless its a severe leg or forearm injury

"God tells me he can get me out of this mess, but he's pretty sure you're fucked."-Braveheart

by Camraman926 on Mar 28, 2010 4:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Major Leg Injury?????

The guy broke his foot I beliebe, similar to what happened to Crabs last year

"God tells me he can get me out of this mess, but he's pretty sure you're fucked."-Braveheart

by Camraman926 on Mar 28, 2010 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Believe *

"God tells me he can get me out of this mess, but he's pretty sure you're fucked."-Braveheart

by Camraman926 on Mar 28, 2010 4:36 PM PDT up reply actions

I can understand why, his blocking was apart of the run heavy offense in college, so there won't be question marks there.

At his speed and size his ceiling is the highest amongst all WR’s, IMO.

Alex Smith is a product of poor coaching and poor management -Black Sand Ninja

by rlott#42 on Mar 28, 2010 9:25 PM PDT up reply actions

interesting choice

nice to see a SMU player get on the 100, considering the arc of the program over the last 20 yrs.
Any reason you chose to put him in the ‘100’?

by t p on Mar 28, 2010 7:06 PM PDT reply actions

In the next week or so, I was trying to basically look for players that have potential beyond what round they’ll probably be selected in. I think Sanders was worthy. There are a few more that will be sprinkled in to the mix here and there beside this one. Not many though because we obviously only have 24 more players to go.

One Christmas, I got a battery with a note saying, "toy not included".

by Drew Kerr on Mar 28, 2010 8:02 PM PDT up reply actions

Speaking of which

I don’t know if you’ve done one on him already or not, but a good one to profile along these lines would be Walter Thurmond. It’s cool to see profiles on guys who could be considered to fill the PR role. Sanders looks like a really good possibility. An average of 13.8 per return and one TD last year is pretty darn good.

by Mangoman on Mar 29, 2010 1:51 AM PDT up reply actions