Stanford, Oklahoma State are Barry J. Sanders' top choices — in that order, his coach says

Sanders, the nation's eighth-ranked running back prospect according to Rivals, has said for months that he's narrowed his choice to Alabama, Florida State, Stanford and OSU.

But Bogert said Stanford is the slight favorite, with OSU close behind.

Academic qualifications at Stanford are unlike those at almost any other Division I program, so Sanders is still working to complete all of the required classes, Bogert said.

Bogert stressed that none of the four have been eliminated; Stanford and OSU are just the leaders right now.

Sanders has visited all four schools this season. He watched Florida State's early-season loss to Oklahoma, Stanford's Oct. 1 win over UCLA and Alabama's Oct. 22 win over Tennessee.

He was also among the OSU faithful celebrating on the field after the Cowboys' 44-10 rout of Bedlam rival Oklahoma, which clinched Oklahoma State's first Big 12 championship.

Sanders, who ended his senior year at Heritage Hall with 1,343 rushing yards and 27 total touchdowns, will announce his college choice at Jan. 7's U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio.

The planned announcement will come five days after Stanford and Oklahoma State face off in the Fiesta Bowl.

Heritage Hall ended its season 13-1, losing 14-7 to Cascia Hall in the Class 3A semifinals. In the loss, Sanders was held out of the end zone on fourth down from the 1-yard line in the final minute.