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KCHS kicker Sanders turns down Brown for Air Force
Alan Sloan - Fri, Feb, 6, 2009
Saying he turned down a “$44,000 offer” from Brown University of the Ivy League, Evan Sanders is still “aiming high” as a future college student/athlete.
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound standout punter/place-kicker for undefeated Class 3A state champ Knoxville Catholic High School instead accepted an appointed to the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo., and made it official during a ceremony in the KCHS gym Friday, Feb. 6.
“It’s a combination of a great education and a great football team,” said Sanders, a Class 3A All-state punter as a junior in 2007 with Stone Memorial who, as a senior transfer to Catholic was named Region 3-2A Special Teams Player of the Year in 2008. “[Air Force] obviously had, the last two years, an improved football record, and that’s sort of like the immediate draw there.
“And it’s got like an Ivy League education, sort of, with the football aspect of a Division I school.”
Sporting a 41.3-yard average on 26 punts while converting 5-of-7 field goals in 2008,
Sanders, 18, won the praise of KCHS head coach Mark Pemberton.
“He’s a heck of a young man, we felt very fortunate that he transferred in to play for us and was instrumental in our run to a state championship,” Pemberton said. “He hit several big field goals for us over the course of the year.”
About a possible career in the United States Air Force, Sanders said, “I’d like to fly, but as for staying in the military, I don’t really know what my plans are for a military future at this point.”
Saying he has a 3.7 grade point average while scoring 26 on his ACT, Sanders added he turned down Brown because “it’s ending up paying [about $10,000] there” after the scholarship.
“Pittsburgh was kinda like a last-month thing … but they [requested] me walking on before I earned a scholarship there.”
Saying he also “contacted Louisville and Vanderbilt,” Sanders added he chose Air Force because “it was a little more my style.”
As for study emphasis, Sanders he’s “going to try out aeronautics engineering” or something “communications-wise.”
On hand for the ceremony were Sanders’ mother and father, Barbara and Edwin Sanders, KCHS principal Dickie Sompayrac and Irish athletics director Jason Surlas.
Clay Hendrix, AFA Falcons’ offensive coordinator, recruited Sanders.
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