New Tider
Matthew Sanders

Nickname: Head
Birthday: 8-2-81
High School: Ashville
HS Mascot: Bulldogs
HS Coach: John Grass
HS Position: P, PLK, QB, FB, LB
HS Number: 15
Official Visits: Alabama
Second Choice: Kentucky
Host During Alabama Visit: Ryan Pflugner
Committed: 9-1-99

Sanders had a brillant career at Ashville HS. During his four years there he averaged over 45 yards per punt. He averaged 42 yards a punt as a freshman, 44 as a sophomore, 47.3 as a junior and 45.5 as a senior. He places the ball accurately and has almost a five-second hang-time.

Playing quarterback, Matthew led Ashville to a 9-3 record. He threw for 1,689 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushed for 746 yards and another 14 TDs.

Matthew was named to the Super All-State team his junior year. He was regarded as the top punter in Alabama and one of the best in the nation.

He picked Alabama over Auburn, UAB, Kentucky and Ole Miss.

What Experts Say about Matthew Sanders

Allen Wallace: "One of the top punters to come from Alabama in recent years. Could be a big contributor to Bama special teams."

Tom Lemming: "One of the nation's top-five punters."

Forrest Davis: "The top-rated punter in the South. Given the Forrest Davis Recruiting Annual's top rating."

Q&A with Matthew Sanders

TI: You committed to Alabama on September 1st. When did you decide you were going to Alabama?

MS: I had a pretty good idea since the Alabama camp last summer. Coach Cottrell saw me kick and told me I was the guy. Then we talked a lot during the summer. I called him every Sunday night. It really built from there.

TI: Not only did Coach Cottrell recruit you, but he'll be your position coach at Alabama. Explain to the fans your feelings about Coach Cottrell.

MS: Coach Cottrell is one of the greatest guys I know. He never sees a face that he forgets. He made such a strong impression on me before he ever started recruiting me hard for Alabama. I remember my junior year, my dad and I went to the A-Day Game. Before the game we went over to the football complex. As we were walking down the hall Coach Cottrell spotted us. He said, "There's my punter. Matt Sanders from Ashville." That surprised me because I had never talked to him before. I didn't know he would recognize me. That really hit me hard. He's a great guy.

TI: Have you spoken to him recently?

MS: I went down to a practice last week and he told me some things I need to be working on. He's told me that I need to work on holding for field goals and extra points.

TI: Do you think you have a good shot to win the punting job next season?

MS: I believe that I've got a good shot to start. From what I hear I can probably come in and help them out. I know I'll have to work hard for the job. Lane Bearden is a good punter, so it'll take a lot of work on my part to win the job.

TI: Do you ever think about kicking in the first game against UCLA?

MS: I've been thinking about that game already. I'll be nervous most definitely. I start thinking about it and wonder if I'll drop the ball or shank that first kick. It's a long way off, but it's already starting to build up inside me. I believe I'll be so pumped up that I'll probably truck over a couple people going down to make a tackle. I'll probably try to find me a couple of defensive backs to run over.

TI: Since you were a linebacker in high school, you like to hit don't you?

MS: Yes sir, I like to hit. I might have a chance to kickoff too. If I do, I'm going most definitely to be looking to bust somebody. I know my role is to be the safety and everything, but I'll be looking to hit somebody. I can't just sit back there and wait.

TI: You were the starting punter for four years and averaged over 45 yards per punt. When did you realize that you had a strong leg?

MS: It was back in junior high. One day they were trying to find a punter, and me and this other guy were trying out. I kicked the ball a lot farther than he did. From then on I knew that I had a strong leg. I just worked at it a lot and kept improving.

TI: Do you have a favorite punt?

MS: It was my freshman season against Lincoln High School. I was standing on our 35 and kicked a perfect spiral that hit inside their 10-yard line. The ball bounced towards the sideline and hit the pylon. They got the ball at their one-inch line. That was my favorite punt, but my favorite game was when we beat Springville, one of our rivals, 13-12 in my junior year. I remember kicking off and going down to make the tackle on their star running back. I hit him pretty hard at about the 20 or 25 and knocked him out of bounds. He got up and tried to play the next play but he couldn't. They ended up having to take him to the hospital at halftime. That was probably my best hit.

TI: Did anything interesting or funny happen during the recruiting process?

MS: I've got a pretty good story. The weekend after I made my official visit to Alabama, I went back down to Alabama again with my brother [Mark Sanders]. We went out with Wesley Britt and Jarrett Johnson. Jarrett was showing us around and took us over to Northport. On the way over there he was telling us a weird story about back during the Civil War that when a soldier was killed, two messengers were sent to tell the dead soldier's wife. He said the messengers would go to the man's house and flash their lantern's to get the wife to come outside. About that time, Jarrett pulled into a driveway and started flashing his headlights and two ghosts appeared in front of the car. We thought it was real. I was scared at first and I know Wesley was scared because he was in the back seat with me and I could tell. Jarrett was acting scared at first and then he just started laughing. I'm still not sure what he did, but it was a pretty good prank. He had us going.

TI: Something else Alabama fans might find interesting is that you and Brodie Croyle are good friends.

MS: Yes, sir. Brodie and I talk a lot. We haven't talked in a couple of months, but we became pretty good friends playing summer baseball together the past few years.

TI: Do you think he'll end up at Alabama?

MS: I think he will, but that's just me. We went down to the Alabama-Auburn game this year. Brodie was trying to act like he wasn't pulling for either team, but I knew he was pulling for Alabama. I caught him a couple of times cheering for Alabama.

TI: Is he as good as people say?

MS: He's a great quarterback, regardless of the competition he plays against. Some people talk about him playing against small schools, but I've never seen anybody throw the football like he does. He's a good baseball player too.

TI: I hear that you're a pretty good baseball player yourself. I know that you've already hit five home runs this season. What were your stats last season?

MS: I hit .568 with 11 home runs and I think 49 RBIs.

TI: Are you considering playing baseball at Alabama?

MS: Yes sir. I've already talked to Coach Wells about it. They're supposed to come up and watch me practice. I'm not sure which position I'll play -- I play third, first and pitch -- but I'm going to play.

TI: Matt, I know you're a lifelong Alabama fan. What does playing for the Crimson Tide mean to you?

MS: It means everything. I can't put it into words other than saying I'm die-hard Alabama. Ever since I can remember I've been wearing Alabama T-shirts and stuff. I have an autographed picture of Coach Bryant. I was only two years old when he autographed it just before he died. It's hanging up in my room right now.