Manatee's Ace Sanders Drafted by Jaguars in 4th Round

BRADENTON –The Jacksonville Jaguars selected South Carolina receiver/returner Ace Sanders with the 101st selection of Sunday's NFL draft. Sanders, who entered the draft as a junior, is seen as a multi-purpose player with big play capability.

Sanders (5'8, 175) was an integral part of the Manatee High football team that upset No.1 ranked St. Thomas Aquinas in the 2009 state semi-final. Sanders caught 65 passes that season for just under a thousand yards. His talents caught the eye of legendary coach Steve Spurrier who recruited him to play for South Carolina, where the dynamic athlete emerged as the best punt returner in the conference, earning All-SEC honors in 2012.

Ace's father, Tracy Sanders, was the QB for Manatee's first state championship team in 1983, before going on to play DB for Florida State and the Buffalo Bills. The elder Sanders currently coaches defensive backs for the Hurricanes.

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Manatee and St. Thomas Aquinas Rich in Recent History