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| Getting To Know Nick Sanchez |
At Stanford: One of the team's most experienced defensive players as a fifth-year senior, who the Cardinal will count upon to be an anchor on the 2007 defense ... Hopes to return to form after a 2006 season hampered by injuries that limited his action after having moved into a starting cornerback role in 2005 ... A heady player who should be one of the team's defensive leaders ... Stanford's active career leader with 100 career tackles, while adding 5.0 tackles-for-loss for minus 10 yards, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumbles recoveries and 12 pass breakups ... Scored a touchdown in 2004 when he returned a punt that a teammate had blocked for 11 yards versus Washington.
Career Statistics
Career Game Highs: Total Tackles - 11, twice Solo - 9, twice Ast - 4, four times TFL - 2.0, at WSU (10/8/05) FF - 1, twice FR - 1, twice INT - 2, vs. California (12/1)
The 2007 Season: Finished his Stanford career with 153 tackles, 8.0 TFL, seven interceptions and one TD on a blocked punt recovery in the end zone against Washington in 2004... Started 24 games at cornerback over his last three seasons... Led the 2007 team with four interceptions, while contributing 53 tackles (fourth on the club), 3.0 TFL, one forced fumble (at Arizona), one fumble recovery (at USC) and three pass breakups... Had two of his four picks in the final game of his collegiate career against California for the only two-interception contest by a Stanford player in 2007... Had a huge game at Arizona with a 2007 season-high nine tackles, 1.0 TFL, an interception and a key forced fumble late in the fourth quarter to help secure a 21-20 win
Game-By-Game Statistics
Season Game Highs: Total Tackles - 9, at Arizona (10/20) Solo - 9, at Arizona (10/20) Ast - 3, vs. California (12/1) Tackles for Loss 1, twice Int - 2, vs. California (12/1)
The 2006 Season: Had a difficult campaign that was hampered by injuries that limited his playing time ... Was able to get in 11 games despite nagging injuries but started just five after starting all 11 games in 2005 ... Was able to get back in the starting lineup for the last three contests ... Managed to contribute 27 tackles (19 solo, eight assists), 0.5 tackles-for-loss for minus two yards and four pass breakups ... Had his best game in a starting role in the first game at the new Stanford Stadium against Navy when he had a season-high six tackles ... Also had a season-high-tying four solo tackles versus Oregon State and at Arizona State, while recording two of his four pass breakups in a 20-3 win at Washington.
Game-By-Game Statistics
Season Game Highs: Total Tackles - 6, vs. Navy (9/16) Solo - 4, twice Ast - 4, vs. Navy (9/16).
The 2005 Season: Had a breakout season earning the Deswarte-Eller Award as the team's top sophomore ... Started all 11 games at cornerback and ranked second on the club with 71 total tackles as well as third on the squad with 46 solo stops ... Tied for the team lead with two fumble recoveries ... Tied for second on the squad with two forced fumbles and two interceptions with both sealing victories at Navy and Washington State ... Added 4.5 tackles-for-loss (-8 yards), a pair of picks with 11 yards in returns and four pass breakups ... Had a career-high-tying 11 tackles against Notre Dame and at Arizona with a career-high-tying nine solo stops in each contest ... One of his forced fumbles came at Arizona ... Had both a forced fumble and a fumble recovery to go with six tackles versus UCLA ... Forced his other fumble at USC ... Also had seven tackles at both Navy and Oregon State.
Game-By-Game Statistics
The 2004 Season: Earned his first varsity letter as a backup cornerback ... Played in 10 of 11 games and recorded two tackles, one pass breakup and one interception with the pick coming against Brigham Young ... Scored a touchdown when he returned a blocked punt for 11 yards versus Washington.
Game-By-Game Statistics
The 2003 Season: Did not play as a true freshman cornerback.
In High School: Very gifted three-sport athlete from Glades Day School in Florida ... Three-year letterwinner in football and basketball ... Four-year letterwinner in baseball ... Played running back, wide receiver and defensive back throughout his prep football career ... Rushed for over 1,200 yards, scored 16 touchdowns, had six interceptions and registered 46 tackles as a senior ... For his career, he gained over 2,700 yards on the ground, scored 50 touchdowns, had 17 interceptions and made 120 tackles ... All-State defensive back as a sophomore and senior ... All-State running back as a junior ... All-County defensive back his junior and senior seasons ... Four-time All-Area selection with three as a defensive back and one as a wide receiver ... 2002 Small Schools Defensive Player of the Year in his district ... Team MVP in both football and basketball as a senior ... Helped his teams win district championships in football, basketball and baseball in 2002-03 ... In basketball, he averaged 15 points, five steals and five assists in his senior year ... He was named All-Area after averaging 20 points, four assists and four steals per game as a junior ... Selected to play in the USA Junior National Competition ... Four-year starter in baseball as a centerfielder ... Hit .482 and had over 20 stolen bases as a senior ... Member of the 2003 Florida Academic All-State Team, which honors 12 male and 12 female student-athletes who excelled in at least two varsity sports ... National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete in 2002-03 ... Very active in community and volunteer service ... Named "Who's Who in High School Sports" as a senior ... Class Valedictorian ... The 12th member of his family to be honored as Valedictorian.
Personal Information: Communication major ... Member of the National Honor Society.
Getting To Know Nick Sanchez
Nicknames: Sancho, The Kid, Dirty
I would describe myself as a person as: Funloving
What people don't know about me is: It's hard to tell, but I was valedictorian of my high school class
The reason I love football is: The competition that takes place every day whether in practice or a game
I pattern my play after: Ty Law
For me to improve as a person, I need to: Be more organized and get more sleep
My favorite pre-game ritual is: Listening to music
My greatest athletic moment is: Scoring a touchdown against Washington my freshman year
The biggest thrill in my life to date is: Coming to Stanford
The teammates I admire the most are: Peter Griffin and Michael Miller
My favorite stadium in which to play is: Our new stadium
The toughest player I have faced in college is: Dwayne Jarrett (USC)
Friends from other college football teams are: Stanley Arnoux (Wake Forest), Larry Taylor (Connecticut), Brannan Thomas (Lehigh), Brad Garrett (Quincy)
The reason I chose Stanford University is: The best mix of athletics and academics in the country, plus the good weather
Since coming to Stanford, I have learned: Time management
The best thing about Stanford is: The people
My favorite class at Stanford is: Ancient Athletics
My least favorite class at Stanford is: Stats
What sets Stanford apart from other college football programs: I think as a whole, we are a lot closer than most teams out there
The sports teams I followed when I was younger: Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Braves
When I played football as a kid, I pretended to be: Deion Sanders, Barry Sanders, Mark Duper
The people I admire most are: My parents
If I could spend a day with anyone, it would be: Jessica Alba
The people in history I admire most are: Jesus Christ, and anyone who has given their life to protect our country
Best book I have read: The Hobbit
Favorite Food: Steak
Least Favorite Food: Seafood
If I had to cook all of my meals, I'd probably survive on: Eggs, bagel bites and microwave dinners
Favorite Movies: Varsity Blues, Troy
Favorite TV Shows: SportsCenter, Family Guy, The Simpsons
Favorite Actor: Will Smith
Favorite Actresses: Salma Hayek, Jessica Alba
If a movie were made of my life, the actor who would play me is: Brad Pitt from Troy when he was swoll (buff)
My ultimate SportsCenter highlight would be: Intercepting a pass and taking it back for a TD in the Rose Bowl
Favorite musical groups or performers: Ludacris, Ja Rule and Nelly
If I were not playing college football, I would be: Playing college basketball or baseball, probably for a smaller school
After my Stanford career, I'd like to be remembered as: Someone who made the game fun and was well respected by his teammates
The best advice I ever received was: Never settle
The people who had the greatest influence on my life: My parents
The places I'd most like to visit: Hawai'i and Australia
The favorite places I've visited: Bahamas or Canc´un
Hobbies: Fishing, sleeping, watching movies, golf and going to the beach
Ten years from now, I'd like to be: Finishing up my NFL career with my wife and kids
My advice to youngsters: Don't give up on your dreams
If I won $1 million, I would: Buy a Cadillac Escalade EXT and give the rest to my parents
The one thing about college football I would change: Pay the players
Last Updated: December 18, 2007