Barry Sanders Granted Release from Stanford Cardinal Football Scholarship
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
Stanford head coach David Shaw learned a tough lesson with running back Barry Sanders Jr., don’t let a player on your team break a record held by the father of one of your other players or said player will transfer.
All jokes aside about the motivation behind Sanders request to be released from his Stanford football scholarship, Shaw has fulfilled Sanders’ wish to be released from his scholarship in a move that seems purely motivated for more playing time.
The news broke about Sanders’ transfer on Tuesday after the 5’10”, 198 pound, back finished the 2015 season as the Cardinal’s third leading rusher with 315 yards on 51 carries with four touchdowns. Sanders was actually the primary backup for Christian McCaffrey but McCaffrey was the focal point of the Stanford offense in 2015 and more than likely will resume that role in 2016 after breaking numerous school and NCAA FBS records in 2015.
McCaffrey broke the D-I all-purpose yards record set in 1988 by the aforementioned Barry Sanders Sr. McCaffrey could seemingly do no wrong during his sophomore campaign rushing for 2,019 yards with eight scores, completed 2 of 3 passes for 39 yards with another two scores, caught 45 passes for 645 yards with five more touchdowns, had 130 punt return yards with a score, and fielded 37 kickoffs for 1,070 yards with yet again another score.
Rumors have swirled since mid-season that Sanders was looking for another opportunity for his senior season with Oklahoma State being brought up repeatedly. Mike Gundy even acknowledged the swirling transfer rumors but as of now nothing is an announced done deal with Sanders heading to Stillwater. Shaw released Sanders from his scholarship with the stipulation that he cannot transfer to another Pac-12 program making OSU a possibility. Sanders is expected to graduate in June thus will be immediately eligible to play at his new school.
Sanders was a member of the 2012 recruiting class rated as a 4-star player out of Heritage Hall High School in Oklahoma City. He did not play in 2012 but became a contributor to the team in 2013 at running back and as a punt returner. His 2014 season stats were nearly identical to his 2015 rushing for 315 yards in both seasons but did not notch a rushing touchdown a year ago. He did catch seven passes for 47 yards. Sanders’ biggest game in 2015 was a seven carry 97 yard performance against Oregon State with two touchdowns breaking off a 65-yard scoring run.
Photo credit: nbcsports.com; No. 26 Barry Sanders finds running room against Washington State.