Ravens Sign Former St. Aug Standout Sanders
Ravens Sign Former St. Aug Standout Sanders
July 28, 2011
The NFL’s Baltimore Ravens signed former Saint
Augustine’s College standout tailback Walter Sanders, the
team announced Thursday (July 28).
The signing is especially sweet for Sanders, a Baltimore, Md.,
native. He is one of 26 rookie free agents signed by the
Ravens.
Reports surfaced that Sanders signed with Baltimore Tuesday, one
day after the NFL Lockout ended, but the Ravens made it official
Thursday.
“This is a dream come true,” Sanders said. “I
proved to the non-believers I can make it happen. I accomplished my
goal - I am in the NFL from Division II.
“I was relieved (when the lockout ended),” added
Sanders, listed at 5-foot-8, 214 pounds on the Ravens’
website. “It has been a long wait but God does everything for
a reason. It is time to go to work.”
During the lockout, Sanders worked out with several Ravens’
players including All-Pro running back Ray Rice, who tutored
Sanders in the offseason. Sanders also worked out with trainer Troy
Jones to prepare for the upcoming NFL season. Sanders was featured
extensively in a recent hometown newspaper article about the
trainer.
The workouts and training regimen give Sanders the confidence he
needs to play in the NFL.
“It has been a good boost for me,” said Sanders, who
will likely play running back and kick returner on special teams.
“They took me in and told me what I needed to do to make
it.”
As a college senior in 2010, Sanders was named CIAA offensive
player of the year after rushing for a league-high 1,377 yards and
15 touchdowns, both modern single-season school records. He leaves
St. Aug as the school’s career leading rusher (2,747 yards)
in the modern era. He led St. Aug to a 9-2 overall mark in 2010
with the nine wins setting a modern school record.
Sanders was named to the All-CIAA team in addition to the
Daktronics All-Region first team, the Don Hansen All-Super Region
second team and the Boxtorow/HBCU All-America team. He was a
candidate for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which is given the Division
II player of the year. In May, Sanders graduated from St. Aug with
a bachelors of science degree in business.
Sanders is the third Falcon to sign with an NFL team since 2006.
The others are Alex Hall, who was drafted in 2008, and Kevin Jones,
who signed as a free agent in 2006.
“I am going to work hard, go full speed every play and learn
my assignments,” said Sanders, who will wear No. 39.
The Ravens training camp started Wednesday (July 27) at the
team’s Owings Mills Training Facility.
“I want to thank everybody at Saint Augustine’s College
who helped me,” Sanders said.
