FAYETTEVILLE — Springdale Har-Ber outside linebacker E’Kyious “Chops” Sanders has put in the work this spring and summer and now hopes this performance this fall will get him to his desired destination.
Sanders (6-2, 195 pounds) went to both the Memphis Mega Camp, which had several colleges on hand, and to the Arkansas camp June 3 to get more exposure.
“I think things went really well for me,” Sanders said. “I was seen by a lot of college coaches, got my name out there more and now hope that translates into some offers down the line.”
Because Arkansas state high school athletes are currently in a dead period, he is getting some rest and getting ready for a July filled with 7-on-7 action.
“I think it is good for everybody to get a chance to go on vacation and spend some time with their family,” Sanders said.
Memphis, Tennessee-Chattanooga and some smaller in-state schools are the ones to show the most interest in Sanders so far.
Arkansas coach Bret Bielema and linebackers coach Vernon Hargreaves took notice of Sanders at the Razorback camp.
“I think I did pretty good,” Sanders said. “Coach Bielema talked to me a little bit…He just told me I did a good job.
“(Hargreaves) just told me to keep working hard, that they would be watching and that I did a great job."
Between that and the feedback he got from coaches in Memphis, Sanders is feeling good about his future.
“That just gave me confidence that I could play football at the next level,” Sanders said.
Sanders, who sports a 3.8 grade point average and was born in Osceola, would like to get an Arkansas offer.
“That would mean so much because my family is just so die-hard Razorback fans and I feel like that would make them proud and that is all I want to do," Sanders said.
“My family has been going through a lot. I do it for me, but I also do it for my family. I just want to make something out of myself and provide back to them what they have provided for me.”
Sanders, who wants to be a physical therapist and athletic trainer, is looking forward to playing more man-to-man coverage this season.
“I think I defend the receiver very well,” Sanders said. “We didn’t do it last year because we didn’t have the people, but this year we do.”
He’s likely to get more exposure this fall as Springdale Har-Ber hits the field expecting a big season.
“I think we are going to have a really good team,” Sanders said. “We are working hard and I’m looking forward to seeing how we finish up this summer with these 7-on-7 tournaments and taking that into the season.”