CHICAGO — It has been a great year for Spencer Sanders of Denton Ryan, and it only continues to get better on and off the field.
Sanders, the quarterback at Ryan, has helped the team to a 14-0 record to the state semi-finals. As of Monday, he has been named the Gatorade Texas Football Player of the Year, the 33rd year Gatorade has given out the award.
On the field, Sanders has completed 209 passes for 3,319 yards and 47 touchdowns. Pair that with just six interceptions. He has also rushed for 1,037 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Sanders has not only had an amazing year on the field. He has managed a 3.04 GPA, helping his case as the award also recognizes high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character.
The senior quarterback, who tore his ACL last year, also helps out through the community in multiple ways. His coach, Billy Miller, told the award organization just how special his signal-caller is.
“Spencer Sanders is just a special player, there’s no other way to describe him,” Miller said. “He throws the ball better than just about anyone I’ve ever been around, and you can’t tackle him when he runs it. He also shows great leadership, great knowledge of the game … every intangible you can think of.”
Winning this award puts him in contention for the National Football Player of the Year award, which is set to be released in December as well. Other recognizable names who have won their state awards are Greg Olsen, Matthew Stafford, Harrison Smith and Leonard Fournette.
ESPN ranks Sanders as the nation’s No. 7 dual-threat quarterback in his class. He is currently verbally committed to play at Oklahoma State for college.
There is a chance he will play next year for the Cowboys, which would mean playing against former Gatorade Texas Football Player of the Year Kyler Murray. Murray won the award in 2013-14 and in 2014-15. Current TCU quarterback Kenny Hill also won the award, in 2012-13.
Because he won, Sanders is able to select a national or local youth sports organization to receive a $1,000 grant.
Gerald Tracy is an assistant editor of Texas football for TexasHSFootball, covering prep football in the San Antonio region. Follow him on Twitter, @GTracySports, and read more of his content here.
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