The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1466831
TRACKING THE PACK 10 ■ THE WOLFPACKER As a senior at Stone Mountain (Ga.) High, Jatavis Sanders was a coveted recruit who picked NC State, but the quarter- back had the misfortune of being in Raleigh when two of the greatest signal-callers in school history were with the Wolf- pack — Jamie Barnette and Philip Rivers. Sanders transferred to East Tennessee State, but he re- membered his days at NC State fondly. In March, Sanders returned to campus as the football program's director of scouting. What drew you to NC State as a football recruit? "The overall culture. I remembered enjoying my team- mates, enjoying campus and the campus life and just enjoy- ing the city of Raleigh. "It came down to NC State and Notre Dame, and I just took away football. Where would I feel more at home if I didn't have football? NC State was it with the city and the relation- ships I built with the older guys on the team — Jamie Bar- nette, Lloyd Harrison. Then the guys I met in my recruiting class — Dantonio Burnette, J.J. Washington. I think the rela- tionships I built and the city of Raleigh itself lured me here." What made you want to get into coaching? Was it something you always figured you would do? "Actually, no. Just like any kid, the majority of the time, you come in and think you are going to have a successful ca- reer and go into the NFL. I briefly did it in Canada, not long. "I needed a job. My old principal had me substitute teach. I was going back and getting my master's and he had me sub- stitute teaching. "Dante′ Ferguson was the head coach at the time at my old middle school. He asked me to come out and help. I tried to say I didn't want to, I was done with football. He said, 'Just come help me for one day.' I went to help him for that one day with the quarterback, and I just fell in love with it. "That one time doing it turned into me coaching 14 years." What are some of your memorable moments in high school coaching? "My most fond memories are just seeing those kids gradu- ate and go off to college and get the opportunity to continue football, to get an education. Even those who didn't play football, keeping up with those guys. Some of them went into the military. Some of them started their own business. "Just seeing those young men through are the most memo- ries that you get out of it." What led you to back to the college game? "I had good friends like Dantonio Burnette and Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay always telling me, 'You should be in col- lege.' It had to register for me to see it myself before I had that itch and that dream. Once I had that itch and that dream to do it, I really saw the chance. "It was a long road to get the opportunity, but I think Dan- tonio and Freddie pushing me, that was very instrumental in actually seeing it for myself and seeing I could do it." How would you describe your job? "I would say I am a football educator. I would tell people I work at NC State, and if they actually get into details, I just tell them I work in recruiting at NC State. I just try to keep it simple. I am not a big title guy." What has the adjustment been like so far? "It's been good and smooth. I work with a great staff, from coaches to the offices. I work with good people. It's a team- work thing. We work as a team and bounce things off each other and support each other. It's been really smooth." — Matt Carter SITTING DOWN WITH: NC State Football Director Of Scouting Jatavis Sanders Before joining the Wolfpack's recruiting staff in March, Sanders spent 14 years coaching high school football in Georgia. One of the players he worked with was Jakobi Meyers, who went on to become a standout wide receiver at NC State and is now with the New England Patriots. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS