Football: Sanders earns NFL tryout

Former Eastern defensive back Terrance Sanders has been offered a tryout with the St. Louis Rams this week, and could potentially earn a spot on the team’s training camp roster.

Sanders is currently a defensive back and kick returner in his second season with the Boise Burn of arenafootball2. His 29.7-yard kickoff return average leads the af2. He is among the league leaders in interceptions with seven, and his seven kickoff returns for touchdowns are more than the entire Burn team had in the past two seasons combined. Sanders also leads his team in tackles with 80.5.

Sanders left the Burn for the tryout yesterday. If he is awarded a spot on the Ram’s training camp roster, he will not return to Boise; if the Rams pass on him, Sanders is expected to return to the Burn’s roster for Saturday’s season-finale against Spokane.

With Boise this season, Sanders has won the af2’s Ironman of the Week award twice; the first came against Central Valley on April 25, and the other on May 30 against Amarillo.

Sanders played for the Panthers from 2002-2006, making appearances in three NCAA FCS playoff games. In a 2006 first round playoff game against Illinois State at O’Brien Stadium, he returned an interception for a touchdown, giving Eastern the lead before the Panthers eventually lost. In 2005, he ranked second in the OVC in passes defended.

Jeff Jurinek can be reached at 581-7942 or DENsportsdesk@gmail.com.