By Jim Henry
jhenry@joplinglobe.com
PITTSBURG, Kan. — A southwest Missouri flavor has developed in the Pittsburg State secondary.
Cornerback Caleb Sanders, who prepped at Carthage, and free safety Chadd Snyder, a Carl Junction product, will start for the Gorillas on Saturday night when they battle Missouri Southern in Miners’ Bowl at PSU’s Carnie Smith Stadium.
“Growing up in Joplin (area), I’ve been on both sides now,” Snyder said. “I know what kind of intensity they are going to have. I know what the town is doing over there for them. On the other side, I know what’s going on over here. I know it’s a big game for both teams.”
“This is like the Carthage-Webb City game of college,” Sanders said. “There will be a great atmosphere. This is a great place to be. They’re a great college, we’re a great college ... it’s going to be fun.”
Snyder, a junior, and Sanders, a redshirt freshman, were recruited by the Gorillas to play quarterback and running back, respectively. But both moved to defense during spring practice.
“Coach (Chuck) Broyles called me in. I sat down and he said do you want to try defense,” Snyder said. “I said yes. That’s how it went.”
“They mentioned running back and receiver (during recruiting). They never really mentioned anything about defense,” Sanders said. “They came to me this spring. We have great running backs — Caleb Farabi, Brandon Clark, Terrance Isaac — and (the coaches) wanted to know if I wanted to get on the field and play defense. It kind of went from there. I picked up on it real fast and the rest is history.”
Sanders made nine tackles and an interception with 35 seconds left to clinch the Gorillas’ 38-31 victory last week at Chadron State (Neb.). Snyder had six tackles and two pass breakups.
“I still have a lot of things to work on, but overall I think I’m doing pretty well,” Snyder said.
“There have been some times when I have kind of gotten confused and had to go in the coaches’ office and ask a few more questions,” Sanders said. “But they are working well with me, and so far it’s been a great fit.”
Ironically, the moves came before injuries hit the secondary. Senior cornerback Bryan McMurtrey had surgery after a torn Achilles, and senior safety Jeremy Jackson has a broken wrist.
“(Snyder and Sanders) have gotten a lot of practice time,” Gorillas defensive backs coach Lance Cullen said. “Bottom line is they still have two games of experience at their position. They both have been open to change. It’s a chance for them to get on the field, so they are excited about that part of it.
“Both of them have tremendous athletic and leadership abilities. With Chadd, you watch the Central Missouri game last year, when we needed it, he showed courage and leadership and guts and won the game for us. You like to have those kinds of guys back there (at safety) making decisions.
“Caleb has done a good job, and both of them are just going to get better. Now they have a lot of things they have to improve. They’re not polished or a finished product by any stretch of the imagination.”
Neither is homesick to return to offense.
“Maybe I miss it a little bit, but not too much,” said Snyder, a former quarterback. “I miss running around and just throwing it, but not too much at all.”
“Sometimes I do miss it,” the ex-running back Sanders said. “When I picked off that ball in Chadron, I kind of missed having the ball in my hands. But I like hitting people, too. I like being able to see the hit instead of just getting hit blindside.”
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Snyder, Sanders move to defense
Former southwest Missouri prep stars starting in PSU secondary
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