When you’re the No. 8 high school running back in the country, you’re bound to draw a considerable amount of attention. When you’re that highly touted and your father is one of the greatest running backs to ever step on a football field at any level?
Well, you’re every football move on and off the field is dissected and placed under a microscope.
Such is the case for Barry J. Sanders, one of the top backs in the Class of 2012 and, yes, the son of that Barry Sanders. With National Signing Day less than two months away, the Oklahoma high schooler has narrowed his list of potential schools down to four, although it appears it may really be down to two.
Sanders’ high school coach, Andy Bogert, tells the Daily Oklahoman that Stanford, Oklahoma State -- his father’s alma mater -- Alabama and Florida State are in the player’s final four. Bogert goes on to note that the Cardinal and the Cowboys -- in that order -- are Sanders’ top two choices, with the Palo Alto school currently labeled as a slight favorite by the coach.
Back in October of 2010, Sanders had also whittled his list down to four, and Stanford at the time wasn’t one of those schools let alone the leader. Instead, Sanders had the three other schools on his current list plus UCLA.
Interestingly, Stanford and Oklahoma State will face one another in the Jan. 2 Fiesta Bowl. Five days later, Sanders will announce during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl -- on NBC -- to which school he will be giving his verbal commitment.
As with other recruits, Sanders will not be able to officially sign with his school of choice until early the following month.
And, for those curious as to whether the fuss over Sanders is due merely to his name, take a look below. First, though, here’s a hint: it’s not.