Barry J. Sanders to Stanford official

Barry J. Sanders made it official Saturday.

The Heritage Hall running back announced his commitment to Stanford during the fourth quarter of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio.

Sanders made the decision to commit to Stanford before Saturday, as The Oklahoman first reported Thursday.

“I get a chance to play with the greatest student athletes in the world,” Sanders said on NBC after putting on a Stanford hat. “They’ve been proven each year, and they’ve got a bright future.”

Sanders was the last of 14 prospects to commit to their respective colleges during Saturday’s game.

Sanders, who Rivals ranks as the eighth-best running back prospect in the country, had been considering Stanford, Oklahoma State, Alabama and Florida State. In recent weeks, Stanford and Oklahoma State had become his top two choices.

One of the biggest factors in the decision, Heritage Hall coach Andy Bogert said in December, was Stanford’s high academic standards. Sanders was still working towards getting qualified at the Pac-12 school.

But Sanders told The Oklahoman in a telephone interview Thursday that he had met Stanford’s requirements.

Sanders’ top two schools played on Jan. 2, with Oklahoma State beating Stanford 41-38 in overtime at the Fiesta Bowl.

Sanders, who said last month he has ‘bled orange for a long time,’ struggled with the decision in large part because of his lifelong love for the Cowboys. His father, Barry Sanders, won the 1988 Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma State before going on to one of the greatest careers in NFL history.

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