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Spencer Sanders
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Spencer Sanders (born December 15, 1999) is an American football quarterback for the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). He previously played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys and Ole Miss Rebels.
Key Information
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Early life
[edit]Sanders grew up in Denton, Texas and attended Billy Ryan High School. He passed for 3,288 yards and 35 touchdowns along with 1,099 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground in his junior season before tearing his ACL.[1] Rated a four-star recruit, Sanders committed to play college football at Oklahoma State during his junior year over offers from Colorado, Ole Miss, North Carolina, Penn State and Texas A&M.[2] As a senior, Sanders threw for 3,845 yards and 54 touchdowns and ran for 1,380 yards and 16 touchdowns and was named the Gatorade Player of the Year, the Associated Press Player of the Year, and Texas Mr. Football.[3][4]
College career
[edit]Oklahoma State
[edit]Sanders redshirted his true freshman season.[5] After competing with Dru Brown throughout spring practice and summer training camp, Sanders was named the Cowboys starting quarterback just before the season opener.[6][7] Sanders was named the Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Week for week 2 after throwing for 250 yards and three touchdowns on 12 of 18 passing with 51 yards rushing in slightly more than one half of play against McNeese State.[8] Sanders was named the Newcomer of the Week a second time after completing nine of 12 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for another 88 yards in a 34–27 win against TCU.[9] The following game against Kansas Sanders suffered a torn ligament in his throwing hand, ending his redshirt freshman season.[10] He threw for 2,065 yards with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while rushing for 625 yards and two touchdowns and was named the conference Offensive Freshman of the Year.[11][12]
Sanders suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter of 2020 season opening game against Tulsa and missed the following game.[13] He finished the season with 2,007 passing yards with 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions.[14] Sanders was named the MVP of the 2020 Cheez-It Bowl after passing for 305 yards and four touchdowns in a 37–34 win against the Miami Hurricanes.[15]
Sanders missed the opener of his redshirt junior season against Missouri State after he tested positive for COVID-19.[16] He passed for 214 yards and one touchdown and 93 yards and another touchdown in Oklahoma State's 37–33 rivalry game victory against Oklahoma.[17] Sanders was named first team All-Big 12 after completing 243 of 392 pass attempts for 2,839 yards and 20 touchdown passes against 12 interceptions and 668 rushing yards with six touchdowns.[18][19]
On December 5, 2022, it was reported by multiple sources that Sanders intended to enter the transfer portal. [20]
Ole Miss
[edit]On January 19, 2023, Sanders transferred to Ole Miss.[21] He spent the season backing up Jaxson Dart, accruing 40 snaps across nine games and passing for three touchdowns.
Statistics
[edit]| Season | Games | Passing | Rushing | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Comp | Att | Pct | Yards | Avg | TD | Int | Rate | Att | Yards | Avg | TD | ||
| Oklahoma State Cowboys | ||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | Redshirt 
| |||||||||||||||
| 2019 | 11 | 10 | 7−3 | 155 | 247 | 62.8 | 2,065 | 8.4 | 16 | 11 | 145.4 | 139 | 628 | 4.5 | 2 | |
| 2020 | 9 | 9 | 6−3 | 155 | 247 | 62.8 | 2,007 | 8.1 | 14 | 8 | 143.2 | 101 | 269 | 2.7 | 2 | |
| 2021 | 13 | 13 | 11−2 | 243 | 392 | 62.0 | 2,839 | 7.2 | 20 | 12 | 133.5 | 146 | 668 | 4.6 | 6 | |
| 2022 | 10 | 10 | 7−3 | 212 | 368 | 57.6 | 2,642 | 7.2 | 17 | 9 | 128.3 | 107 | 391 | 3.7 | 8 | |
| Ole Miss Rebels | ||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | 9 | 0 | – | 19 | 29 | 65.5 | 278 | 9.6 | 3 | 0 | 180.2 | 11 | 45 | 4.1 | 0 | |
| Career[22] | 52 | 42 | 31−11 | 784 | 1,283 | 61.1 | 9,831 | 7.7 | 70 | 40 | 137.2 | 504 | 2,001 | 4.0 | 18 | |
Professional career
[edit]On February 17, 2025, Sanders signed with the DC Defenders of the United Football League.[23] He spent the season as the Defenders' third-string quarterback behind Jordan Ta'amu and Mike DiLiello and did not record any passing statistics, though he did record a 14-yard reception.
UFL career statistics
[edit]| Year | Team | Games | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Record | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Y/A | Lng | TD | ||
| 2025 | DC | 2 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 2 | 0 | 0–0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
References
[edit]- ^ Allen, Robert (August 4, 2019). "Facing adversity has put Brown and Sanders in good position". 247Sports.com. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ Krueger, Nick (October 1, 2016). "Spencer Sanders commits to Oklahoma State after Cowboys' big win". Rivals.com. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ "Denton Ryan QB Spencer Sanders is named state player of the year by AP". The Dallas Morning News. Associated Press. December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ Cooke, Hunter (December 18, 2017). "Oklahoma State commit Spencer Sanders named Mr. Texas Football". DaytonDailyNews.com. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ "OSU football: Redshirt year helped create the Spencer Sanders you see now". The Oklahoman. September 7, 2019.
- ^ "With his 'rocket' arm, former Denton Ryan star Spencer Sanders primed for Oklahoma State QB competition". The Dallas Morning News. July 30, 2019.
- ^ Lancaster, Zach (August 30, 2019). "Report: Spencer Sanders to start at Oregon State". 247Sports.com. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ Bonner II, Frank (September 9, 2019). "OSU football: Cowboys quarterback Spencer Sanders named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week". Tulsa World. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ Buckingham, Dylan (November 4, 2019). "Cowboys Almost Sweep Big 12 Honors For Week 10". KFOR.com. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ Wright, Scott (November 22, 2019). "Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders to miss rest of season with thumb injury". USAToday.com. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ "Sources: Thumb surgery sidelines Oklahoma State's Spencer Sanders". ESPN.com. November 21, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ "2019 All-Big 12 Football Awards Announced". KSAL.com. December 4, 2019. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
- ^ "OSU football: Spencer Sanders could return against KU, but injuries on the offensive line will take time". Tulsa World. September 30, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ "Oklahoma State football: What do coaches want to see from Spencer Sanders in spring?". The Oklahoman. March 27, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ "Sanders, Oklahoma State beat Miami 37–34 in Cheez-It Bowl". Los Angeles Times. December 29, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Low, Chris (September 4, 2021). "Spencer Sanders out for Oklahoma State opener; QB in COVID-19 protocols, per sources". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ "Sanders leads No. 7 Oklahoma State past No. 10 Oklahoma". TSN.ca. Associated Press. November 27, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Bender, Bill (February 10, 2022). "Big 12 quarterback outlooks for 2022: All eyes on Texas, Oklahoma transfers". Sporting News. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Emig, Guerin (January 3, 2022). "Spencer Sanders, scrutinized as always, gets his say against Notre Dame". Tulsa World. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ^ Oklahoma State Cowboys on 247Sports [@OKState247] (December 5, 2022). "𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: #OKState quarterback Spencer Sanders intends to enter the transfer portal, multiple sources tell @247Sports. https://t.co/76LAxhH9eA" (Tweet). Retrieved December 13, 2022 – via Twitter.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Staff, The Grove Report (January 19, 2023). "Oklahoma State Transfer QB Spencer Sanders Commits to Ole Miss". The Grove Report – Sports Illustrated at Ole Miss. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
- ^ "Spencer Sanders College Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- ^ "UFL Communications Department". X.com. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Spencer Sanders.
Spencer Sanders
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life
Upbringing
Spencer Sanders was born on December 15, 1999, in Denton, Texas.[7] He is the son of David and Carrie Sanders, with his mother originally from Oklahoma.[11][12] Sanders has a sister, Carissa, who played soccer at the University of North Texas from 2015 to 2018.[7][13] Growing up in a family with strong athletic ties, Sanders was exposed to sports from an early age. His mother, Carrie, had a notable basketball background, excelling as a player during her high school years at Kingfisher in Oklahoma.[11][12] This familial emphasis on competition and physical activity influenced Sanders' development, fostering his interest in football amid Denton's vibrant youth sports scene. He later transitioned to organized football at Denton Ryan High School in Denton.High school career
Sanders attended Denton Ryan High School in Denton, Texas, where he played quarterback for the Raiders football team.[14] Over his four-year high school career, Sanders amassed 8,779 passing yards and 106 passing touchdowns, while leading the team to a 46-6 overall record and 30 consecutive regular-season wins across his final three seasons as the starting quarterback.[15][8] As a junior in 2016, Sanders threw for 3,288 yards and 35 touchdowns with just five interceptions, while rushing for 1,099 yards and 18 touchdowns, earning Associated Press Class 5A first-team all-state honors.[15][16][4][17] His junior season ended prematurely when he suffered an ACL tear during the team's playoff game; he had previously torn the ACL in his other knee as a freshman.[4][18] Sanders rebounded strongly as a senior in 2017, passing for 3,877 yards and 54 touchdowns with only seven interceptions, and adding 1,380 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns, which helped the Raiders to a 13-2 record.[15][18] For his senior performance, he was named the Gatorade Texas Football Player of the Year, Mr. Texas Football by Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine, and the Associated Press Class 5A Offensive Player of the Year.[19][20][21] Rated as a four-star recruit by both ESPN and 247Sports, Sanders committed to Oklahoma State University in October 2016 over scholarship offers from schools including Baylor, Colorado, and Houston.[14][7][14]College career
Oklahoma State
Spencer Sanders arrived at Oklahoma State University as a highly touted four-star quarterback recruit from Denton Ryan High School in Texas, committing to the Cowboys in 2016 over offers from several other programs.[22] As a true freshman in 2018, Sanders redshirted to preserve a year of eligibility, receiving no game action while learning behind starter Taylor Cornelius.[23] In 2019, Sanders emerged as the starting quarterback after a fall camp competition with Dru Brown, marking the beginning of his progression as a dual-threat signal-caller.[24] He started the first 10 games, leading the team in total offense with 2,276 yards before a thumb injury sidelined him for the regular season's remainder and required surgery.[25] For his performance, Sanders earned Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors from the conference coaches, along with the Oklahoma State Russell Okung Award as the outstanding newcomer.[26] Sanders continued his development in 2020 as a redshirt sophomore, starting nine games despite dealing with a high ankle sprain that caused him to miss time and limited his mobility.[27] He showed improved passing efficiency, completing 62.8% of his attempts, and contributed significantly to the Cowboys' offense in a shortened COVID-19-affected season.[28] His junior year in 2021 represented a breakout campaign, as Sanders started all 13 games and led the Big 12 in total offense with 3,507 yards, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors from the conference coaches.[7] A highlight was the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame on January 1, 2022, where he threw for 371 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 125 yards, orchestrating a 37–35 comeback victory and securing Fiesta Bowl Offensive MVP honors.[29] Entering his redshirt senior season in 2022, Sanders started the year strongly, including a career-high 406 passing yards in a season-opening win over Central Michigan, but the Cowboys' offense faced inconsistencies due to injuries along the line and at receiver, contributing to team struggles.[30][31] On December 5, 2022, following a 7–6 regular season and a bowl loss to Wisconsin in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl, Sanders announced his entry into the NCAA transfer portal, ending his time at Oklahoma State with one year of eligibility remaining.[32] Over his four seasons with the Cowboys, Sanders served as the primary starter for 42 games, compiling a 30–11 record and establishing himself as one of Oklahoma State's most productive quarterbacks.[8] He finished second in program history in career passing yards (9,553) and total offense (11,509), third in passing touchdowns (66), and set school records for a quarterback in rushing yards (1,956) and total offensive plays (1,746), becoming one of only two players in OSU history to surpass 5,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a career.[8][33]Ole Miss
Following his time as a starting quarterback at Oklahoma State, Spencer Sanders entered the NCAA transfer portal and committed to the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) on January 19, 2023, seeking a new opportunity in the SEC for his final season of eligibility.[34][35] At Ole Miss, Sanders transitioned to a backup role behind incumbent starter Jaxson Dart, who led the Rebels' high-powered offense under head coach Lane Kiffin.[8] Despite competing for the starting position during spring and fall camps, Sanders adapted to a reserve capacity, providing depth in a quarterback room that included other transfers like Walker Howard.[36] In this limited role, he appeared in 9 games during the 2023 season, stepping in for mop-up duty and short-yardage situations; he completed 19 of 29 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns, contributing to Ole Miss's 11-2 campaign that featured a dynamic passing attack averaging over 300 yards per game.[8][37] Prior to the season, Sanders completed his undergraduate requirements and graduated from Ole Miss with a degree in multi-disciplinary studies in August 2023.[38] After the Rebels' Peach Bowl appearance, where Sanders was ruled academically ineligible to play due to prior graduation status, he opted to forgo any potential additional eligibility and declared for the 2024 NFL Draft to pursue a professional career.[39]Passing Statistics
The following table summarizes Spencer Sanders' passing statistics during his college career.[37]| Year | Team | Games | Completions | Attempts | Yards | Touchdowns | Interceptions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Oklahoma State | 11 | 155 | 247 | 2,065 | 16 | 11 |
| 2020 | Oklahoma State | 9 | 155 | 247 | 2,007 | 14 | 8 |
| 2021 | Oklahoma State | 13 | 243 | 391 | 2,839 | 20 | 12 |
| 2022 | Oklahoma State | 10 | 212 | 368 | 2,642 | 17 | 9 |
| 2023 | Ole Miss | 9 | 19 | 29 | 278 | 3 | 0 |
| Career | Total | 52 | 784 | 1,282 | 9,831 | 70 | 40 |
Rushing Statistics
Sanders also contributed significantly as a runner, particularly during his time at Oklahoma State. The table below details his rushing performance.[37]| Year | Team | Games | Carries | Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Oklahoma State | 11 | 139 | 628 | 2 |
| 2020 | Oklahoma State | 9 | 101 | 269 | 2 |
| 2021 | Oklahoma State | 13 | 146 | 668 | 6 |
| 2022 | Oklahoma State | 10 | 107 | 391 | 8 |
| 2023 | Ole Miss | 9 | 11 | 45 | 0 |
| Career | Total | 52 | 504 | 2,001 | 18 |
Total Offense
Sanders' total offense averaged 227.5 yards per game over his career, with season averages peaking at 303.3 yards per game in 2022 at Oklahoma State. These figures combine his passing and rushing yards, highlighting his dual-threat capability.[37]Professional career
NFL draft process
Following the 2023 college football season at Ole Miss, where he served as a backup quarterback, Spencer Sanders declared his eligibility for the 2024 NFL Draft as a fifth-year senior.[40] During the pre-draft process, Sanders measured 6 feet 1 inch tall and 210 pounds, placing him in the lower percentile for quarterback height but providing a sturdy frame for mobility.[41] He participated in Ole Miss's pro day on March 27, 2024, in Oxford, Mississippi, where he showcased his throwing ability in front of representatives from all 32 NFL teams, including drills focused on short and intermediate passes to highlight his arm strength and accuracy.[42] Sanders also accepted an invitation to the Hula Bowl, an all-star event, further exposing his skills to professional scouts.[40] Sanders went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, held April 25–27 in Detroit, Michigan, amid a deep quarterback class and his limited starting role in his final college season.[43] Shortly after the draft, he received an invitation to the Kansas City Chiefs' rookie minicamp, held May 4–6, 2024, as a tryout player.[44] During the minicamp, Sanders threw passes in team drills, including a session where his pass was intercepted by an undrafted linebacker, but he competed alongside other quarterbacks for a potential practice squad spot.[45] The Chiefs released him at the conclusion of the minicamp without offering a contract, and he did not secure any further NFL tryouts or signings in the immediate aftermath.[46]UFL career
Sanders signed with the DC Defenders of the United Football League on February 17, 2025.[47] He entered the season as the third-string quarterback behind starter Jordan Ta'amu and backup Mike DiLiello, with limited opportunities for activation on game days.[48][49] Sanders was inactive for the Defenders' Week 1 matchup against the Birmingham Stallions.[48] He appeared in just one regular-season game, logging minimal snaps primarily on special teams and as a wide receiver rather than at quarterback.[10][49] The Defenders finished the 2025 regular season with a 6-4 record, securing second place in the XFL Conference and advancing to the playoffs.[50] They went on to win the UFL championship on June 14, 2025, defeating the Michigan Panthers 58-34, with Sanders on the active roster for the playoffs, including the championship game, but not serving as a key contributor or recording any statistics.[51] As of November 2025, Sanders remains under contract with the Defenders but has not yet announced his return for the upcoming season.[52][53]Career statistics
Passing Statistics
The following table summarizes Spencer Sanders' passing statistics during his college career at Oklahoma State (2019–2022) and Ole Miss (2023).[37]| Year | Team | Games | Completions/Attempts | Yards | Touchdowns | Interceptions | Passer Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Oklahoma State | 11 | 155/247 | 2,065 | 16 | 11 | 145.4 |
| 2020 | Oklahoma State | 9 | 155/247 | 2,007 | 14 | 8 | 143.2 |
| 2021 | Oklahoma State | 13 | 243/391 | 2,839 | 20 | 12 | 133.9 |
| 2022 | Oklahoma State | 10 | 212/368 | 2,642 | 17 | 9 | 128.3 |
| 2023 | Ole Miss | 9 | 19/29 | 278 | 3 | 0 | 180.2 |
| Career | 52 | 784/1,282 | 9,831 | 70 | 40 | 138.2 |
Rushing Statistics
The following table details Sanders' rushing statistics from his college seasons.[37]| Year | Team | Carries | Yards | Touchdowns | Yards per Carry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Oklahoma State | 139 | 628 | 2 | 4.5 |
| 2020 | Oklahoma State | 101 | 269 | 2 | 2.7 |
| 2021 | Oklahoma State | 146 | 668 | 6 | 4.6 |
| 2022 | Oklahoma State | 107 | 391 | 8 | 3.7 |
| 2023 | Ole Miss | 11 | 45 | 0 | 4.1 |
| Career | 504 | 2,001 | 18 | 4.0 |
Total Offense Statistics
Sanders' combined passing and rushing yards, along with total offensive plays, are presented below. These figures include participation in bowl games such as the 2021 Fiesta Bowl, where his performance contributed to Oklahoma State's season totals.[37]| Year | Team | Passing Yards | Rushing Yards | Total Yards | Total Plays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Oklahoma State | 2,065 | 628 | 2,693 | 386 |
| 2020 | Oklahoma State | 2,007 | 269 | 2,276 | 348 |
| 2021 | Oklahoma State | 2,839 | 668 | 3,507 | 537 |
| 2022 | Oklahoma State | 2,642 | 391 | 3,033 | 475 |
| 2023 | Ole Miss | 278 | 45 | 323 | 40 |
| Career | 9,831 | 2,001 | 11,832 | 1,786 |
Professional
Sanders served in a limited role as the third-string quarterback for the DC Defenders during the 2025 UFL season, appearing in two games without starting.[54] He recorded no passing or rushing statistics across the regular season and playoffs.[55][56] His only statistical contribution came on the receiving end, with 1 reception for 14 yards in one regular-season game.[10][57]2025 UFL Statistics (DC Defenders)
| Category | Games Played | Completions/Attempts | Yards | Touchdowns | Interceptions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passing (Regular Season) | 2 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No attempts recorded.[58] |
| Passing (Playoffs) | 1 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Active for UFL Championship; no attempts.[56] |
| Rushing (Season Total) | 2 | - | 0 | 0 | - | No carries.[54] |
| Receiving (Season Total) | 2 | 1 reception | 14 | 0 | - | 14.0 yards per reception; longest 14 yards; occurred in 1 regular-season game.[10][57] |