Oklahoma State QB Spencer Sanders eyeing Big 12 title
STILLWATER, Okla. (BVM) 鈥� Being a quarterback is one of the most challenging jobs in sports. Oklahoma State senior quarterback Spencer Sanders has seen this firsthand. Now, Sanders has another challenge. Leading a young team to a Big 12 Championship.
鈥淸I鈥檒l] just go out there [and] win,鈥� Sanders said at spring practice. 鈥淸I鈥檒l] do whatever I got to do to win, whatever it takes. I鈥檓 going to perfect every craft I can [that鈥檚] possible. We鈥檙e going to keep on getting better in the passing game, keep limiting turnovers and bring the young guys up around me; build chemistry and let鈥檚 go [get] a national championship.鈥澛�
Coming into the 2022 season, one could argue that Sanders is one of the top quarterbacks in all of college football. He has proved that over the three years, especially this past season.
Sanders was named the first-team All-Big 12 quarterback. He generated 3,507 total yards of offense. He is the second-ever first-team all-conference quarterback from OSU, after Brandon Weeden. With that award, Sanders also became just the second player in FBS history with 350 passing yards, 100 rushing and four passing TDs in a bowl game during the Playstation Fiesta Bowl vs. Notre Dame. Tahj Boyd of Clemson did that back in 2014 in the Orange Bowl.
However, before becoming the player he was today, Sanders faced adversity at the high school level. Here he learned to push himself and not let anything hold him back.
Playing for the Denton Ryan Raiders, Sanders suffered two season-ending injuries but bounced back from both of them. During his freshman year, he suffered a season-ending knee injury. But within four months, Sanders was starting in all his games, Leading the Raiders to a Class 6A D1 quarterfinals appearance.聽
Sanders was also named 2017-18 Texas Gatorade Football Player of the Year and Mr. Texas Football.
鈥淵ou always push yourself to be better,鈥� Sanders said. 鈥淵ou always push yourself to be 鈥榯he guy.鈥� I鈥檝e always had that competitive drive to be the No. 1 [guy]. I鈥檓 going to keep pushing myself and hopefully, it helps the guys around me to keep pushing.鈥�
It was not a question of if but when for Sanders and his college decision.聽 He had offers from Baylor, Ole Miss, Penn State, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and other prestigious programs. He chose Oklahoma State.
After redshirting in 2018, Sanders would take over the starting role. He鈥檇 make a profound impact right from the jump. He was awarded Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year. Setting the Oklahoma State freshman record for passing ith 2,056 yards, Sanders showed he had the potential to be one of the best to suit up in the orange and black.
Sanders continued to prove that. During the 2020-21 season as a sophomore.
He finished the season ranked second in the Big 12 with 8.13 yards per pass attempt and third in the conference with a passing efficiency of 143.2. Sanders was also included in the preseason watch list for the Davey O’Brien awards. And he capped off the season with an MVP in the Cheez-it Bowl against Miami, where he threw four TDs and rushed for 45 yards.
For three seasons, Sanders has always been 鈥渢he man鈥� at OSU. He has proved it year and year out. Now heading into his senior season, he will aim to solidify that title.聽
It鈥檚 sure to be a special season for Sanders and the Cowboys as they鈥檒l look to make another appearance in the Big 12 Championship. It鈥檚 going to be a challenging road like every other season, but with a leader like Sanders, Coach Gundy and young players ready to prove themselves, it鈥檚 a dangerous team ready to make some more noise in college football.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 care [if] we have a young team. I don鈥檛 care [if] we have a young guy here or an 鈥榰ntalented鈥� guy there. If we can go do it [win], let鈥檚 go do it,鈥� Sanders said. 鈥淚f you鈥檙e here, you鈥檙e a great player鈥e鈥檙e together on this one [season]. 鈥淸Every season] we鈥檙e all together.鈥�
