Prospect Watch – Gio Vonne Sanders
For the second edition of Prospect Watch, I got in touch with Gio Vonne Sanders, from WPIAL Class-A powerhouse Jeannette. Sanders is a 2017 grad, and could hopefully be the next Western Pennsylvania Athlete rocking the Navy and Gold.
Sanders is just a straight up playmaker. I only had to watch the first 45 seconds of film to know that he is gonna be a stud at the next level.
In the dictionary, next to the word “Versatile” there’s gotta be a picture of Gio Vonne Sanders. In his Hudl Highlights alone, I think I saw him play Quarterback, Running Back, Slotback, Wide Receiver, Safety, Cornerback, Inside Linebacker and Outside Linebacker. Not only does he play them all, but he looks like a stud at all of them!
I could honestly see him playing offense or defense in college, and I’m glad I wont be the one having to pick where he lines up on Saturdays. When I asked Sanders where he wants to play in college, “Slotback” and why?
“Because I like to score TD’s”.
Diving into Sanders’ stats, he definitely likes to score touchdowns. Through seven games this season he has around 1500 All-Purpose yards and 25 (!!) Touchdowns. Pair that with last year, when he lead Jeannette to a WPIAL Championship appearance, where Sanders gathered 2300 All-Purpose yards and 25 more touchdowns. A player with that kind of nose for the end zone can’t be ignored.
For those unfamiliar with the Slotback position, you could consider the role Quadree Henderson plays now as a “Slotback”. Sanders has the speed and athleticism to eventually take up that role.
That being said, I think Sanders would have great success on the defensive side of the ball. His high motor, playmaking ability, and pure speed (Gio runs a 4.5), screams “Ball-Hawking Safety” to me. Sanders stands at 5’11 175lbs so he is ideal size for a DB. He jumps routes, high points the ball, and is physical – which is not the norm in DB’s. (As a side note, of the 50 TD’s I mentioned earlier, 2 were interceptions taken all the way to the house).
Is it possible we see a two-way player in the Burgh? As nice as that would be, I don’t know how Coach Narduzzi feels about that. But with a player as versatile as Sanders, it’s always possible.
Speaking of Coach Duzz, when I asked Sanders about Pitt’s head coach, yet another player gave me a sterling review. He said his favorite thing about him was how he is, “Changing the program around!” and “[He] brings a lot of energy”. And I definitely can’t disagree with that!
Sanders plans to study Engineering at Pitt, because he understands that an education is just as important as football. He loves the atmosphere around campus and the football team, and he says the Cathedral of Learning is his favorite thing about the University of Pittsburgh.
Along with Pitt, Sanders tells me he is considering Akron, Duquesne, Lafayette, Maine, Robert Morris, Saint Francis, and West Virginia. He also recently took a visit to ACC rival NC State.
WPIAL Class-A Football gets a bad wrap on the recruiting trail. Perhaps why some would say a player of Sanders’ caliber should be – but isn’t – swimming in offers.
But people outside of the city see Class-A and claim that the competition isn’t up to college standards. This may be true, as the volume of players just isn’t what you find at a 6A or 5A school. But let me list the names of some 1A studs that went on to play big time college football over the past few years:
- WR Tyler Boyd (Clairton – Pitt- Bengals)
- QB Terrell Pryor (Jeannette – Ohio State – Browns)
- FS Terrish Webb (Clairton – Pitt)
- QB Lenny Williams (Sto-Rox – IUP)
- WR Aaron Matthews (Clairton – Pitt)
- CB Lamont Wade (Clairton – ESPN 300 Recruit)
With that kind of talent coming out of Class-A year in and year out, colleges have to start taking notice of players from small schools. Sanders is next in line to help prove that where you go to high school, shouldn’t be too much of a factor in how you well succeed at the next level.
Wherever Sanders ends up, he is going to make a huge impact. Hopefully, that impact will be made in a panther uniform
Check out Sanders on Hudl:
