WSU Star Steps Up In Status Sanderson Makes Tsn First Team

Scott Sanderson joined an exclusive club of Washington State offensive linemen Wednesday when The Sporting News named the left tackle to its All-America first team.

The 6-foot-6, 286-pound senior from Concord, Calif., is the third WSU offensive tackle to make an All-America first team, joining Turk Edwards (1930) and Laurie Niemi (1948). Guard Mike Utley (1988) had been the school’s most recent first-team offensive lineman.

Known primarily for his pass-protection skills before this season, Sanderson developed into a punishing, often-relentless run blocker. He also proved durable, starting each of WSU’s 34 games the last three seasons.

Sanderson’s best game this season may have come in a 21-18 victory over California, when he helped Michael Black rush for a career-high 214 yards.

“It’s very flattering and it’s an honor (to be recognized),” said Sanderson, already a Pacific-10 Conference first-team selection. “It’s definitely a reflection of our coaching staff - I couldn’t have gotten there without the help of the coaches on this staff.”

Sanderson credited former WSU assistant George Yarno, now with the University of Idaho, in addition to current assistants John McDonell and Lawrence Livingston.

The Sporting News wasn’t alone in recognizing Sanderson. The Associated Press and Football News each made him a third-team selection.

In addition, NFL draft analysts have projected him as a first-round selection in April - the kind of speculation that makes Sanderson cringe.

“I try not to pay much attention to that because it’s just a bunch of words,” he said. “You don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Middle linebacker James Darling, Sanderson’s teammate and the Pac-10’s leading tackler this season with 136, made The Sporting News’ second team. He was named previously to the all-Pac-10 first team.

Washington offensive lineman Benji Olson was on AP’s first team.

Darling, a former running back at Kettle Falls High School, joined WSU four years ago, when the Cougars had future NFL linebackers Ron Childs and Mark Fields. He lessened the impact of their 1994 departure by becoming a dominant player last season, his first as a full-time starter.

Sanderson and Darling will play in the East-West Shrine Game, Jan. 11 at Stanford, and the Senior Bowl, Jan. 18 at Mobile, Ala.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 3 Color Photos