Loading ...The Return of Barry Sanders…
One of the greastest running backs in the history of the NFL retired well before he should have, but Barry Sanders made sure he left something behind…his son. Barry James Sanders is following in his father’s footsteps and making a name for himself, well before his father ever did.
Barry James Sanders, son of Barry Sanders, making a name for himself at Heritage Hall High School.
The young Sanders, a sophomore at Heritage Hall High School in Oklahoma, was turning heads as a freshman. In the 2008 season, Sanders helped his team – which consisted of 15 seniors – to a perfect season. Sanders’ kid rushed for 742 yards and 12 touchdowns on 89 carries (watch this run) while helping his school go 15-0 and capture the 2008 Oklahoma 2A state title.
However, Heritage head coach Andy Bogert knew he had something special well before Sanders’ freshman year. Bogert was excited when he heard a son of Barry Sanders would be joining his team – who wouldn’t be – but he wanted to be sure he was the real deal. So Bogert checked him out at a junior high game…he only needed to see three plays. The first carry Barry James Sanders got went for 80 yards. The second, 60 yards. The third, 65 yards. That was enough for Bogert.
The youngster resembles his father in every way, but there are a few differences. While he his humble like his dad, he is much more talkative and loves to joke around. And he is a little bigger than Barry is. He measures up at 5-11, 180 lbs – that’s three inches taller than dad. The 15-year-old, who turns 16 in April, has his fathers elusiveness, ability to stop on a dime, and field vision, but seems to be more of an upright runner than his father and has some power too. Oh yeah, and there’s that whole forty time thing…which he runs in a 4.44 (at 15 years old).
Barry Sanders kept true to form when talking about his son, humbly claiming there is not much he can teach him about football. Sanders prefers to be a father rather than a coach, and wants to focus on helping Barry James make the right decisions off the field. Sanders explained that the choices he makes on the field are easy, its the ones that he will make off it that he wants to help out with.
One big decision the young Sanders will have is which sport to play. Not only does he dominate the football field, but Barry James isn’t too bad on the baseball diamond either. He is a talented outfielder and has said that he will decided which sport to play by seeing which one he has more success in (I pray its football). No one is claiming him to be as good as his father, because after all, it’s just high school football…but the comparisons are certainly there. I could only hope to watch some running back hand out season-ending injuries (Rod Woodson – which was so bad its not available online) or make defenders look like complete idiots (Harlon Barnett – #42 for the Patriots in this highlight video) with nothing but his jukes and have the name “Sanders” on the back of his jersey…again.
I’m waiting for the ESPN special right now….