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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Patrolling the Secondary
9/4/2008 | Football
By Thomas McKee
OleMissSports.com INSIDER
It's not often that a Division I football player starts every collegiate game he's ever played in, but in Jamarca Sanford's case, he has, and has done so close to home.
The Batesville native has started in all 32 of his career appearances with the Ole Miss Rebels, and not only has he started in 32 games, but he has made a positive impact in every single contest.
"It's meant a lot to me to have my mom, dad, daughter and my sister so close to home," the 5-foot-10 safety said. "They don't have that far to travel to home games. It means a lot to look up in the stands and know your family is there."
Through three seasons in Oxford, Sanford has amassed 205 total tackles, including 12 TFL's (tackles for losses).
A large number of those tackles, 83 to be exact, came last season when Sanford was the third-leading tackler on the team.
He has spent the majority of his time starring as a safety in the Rebels' secondary, but has shown his versatility as he started four games at linebacker during Ole Miss' 2006 campaign.
"Some games you have to do what is best for the team," Sanford said. "At the time, it was best for the team for me to play linebacker, so I went out there and played linebacker. I'll do whatever the coach wants me to do. I'm more than willing to do it for the team."
It's that attitude and determination that has pushed Sanford to where he is, which is not only one of the better safeties in the Southeastern Conference, but one of the main leaders on the Rebel defense.
"I've grown up and started understanding how to be a team player and how to be a great leader to help us play together," Sanford said. "I've also come to where I can show the other guys how to lead."
The Rebel senior doesn't take his leadership position too far, as he only speaks when he needs to.
"I get on guys when I see they're really out of line and need it," the former South Panola star said. "Knowing when to get on someone is just part of being a leader and stepping up and playing your role."
Just because Sanford is one of the more mature leaders on the team doesn't mean that he can't have a little fun on the field. However, the fun isn't always funny to his teammates.
"I talk a lot of trash, but it just comes with being vocal," Sanford said with a smile. "But I mean if I'm trash-talking, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be hitting you hard at the same time to back it up."
Sanford has a lot of things going his way during his final season as a Rebel, beginning with a fresh start with first-year head coach Houston Nutt and his new coaching staff now at the helm.
The mindset of the entire team has changed to a positive, winning one, which is something that Sanford is very excited about.
"I love what Coach Nutt has brought with him, including his coaching staff," Sanford said. "Coach (Tyrone) Nix, Coach (Kim) Dameron and I, we see eye-to-eye. (Nix and Dameron) understand me and I understand them. I have a lot of respect for both of them.
"I just love the way they coach. They are smart coaches who help you with ball skills as well as breaking plays down."
During his final season in Oxford, Sanford is not only sporting his traditional No. 13 on his jersey, but is also wearing a No. 38 patch. He gets the privilege of wearing the No. 38 patch as the recipient of the 2008 Chucky Mullins Courage Award.
Mullins, who wore No. 38, was a defensive back for the Rebels whose career came to an early end in 1989 when he was paralyzed in a game against Vanderbilt.
"It's an honor to receive that award, and I just want to go out and try to represent it the best I can," Sanford said proudly.
As far as his goals for his fourth and final season as an Ole Miss Rebel, Sanford has only one thing on his mind - winning.
"I just want to go to a bowl game and go out winning games. It's not about me; it's really about the team just trying to win this year."
OleMissSports.com INSIDER
It's not often that a Division I football player starts every collegiate game he's ever played in, but in Jamarca Sanford's case, he has, and has done so close to home.
The Batesville native has started in all 32 of his career appearances with the Ole Miss Rebels, and not only has he started in 32 games, but he has made a positive impact in every single contest.
"It's meant a lot to me to have my mom, dad, daughter and my sister so close to home," the 5-foot-10 safety said. "They don't have that far to travel to home games. It means a lot to look up in the stands and know your family is there."
Through three seasons in Oxford, Sanford has amassed 205 total tackles, including 12 TFL's (tackles for losses).
A large number of those tackles, 83 to be exact, came last season when Sanford was the third-leading tackler on the team.
He has spent the majority of his time starring as a safety in the Rebels' secondary, but has shown his versatility as he started four games at linebacker during Ole Miss' 2006 campaign.
"Some games you have to do what is best for the team," Sanford said. "At the time, it was best for the team for me to play linebacker, so I went out there and played linebacker. I'll do whatever the coach wants me to do. I'm more than willing to do it for the team."
It's that attitude and determination that has pushed Sanford to where he is, which is not only one of the better safeties in the Southeastern Conference, but one of the main leaders on the Rebel defense.
"I've grown up and started understanding how to be a team player and how to be a great leader to help us play together," Sanford said. "I've also come to where I can show the other guys how to lead."
The Rebel senior doesn't take his leadership position too far, as he only speaks when he needs to.
"I get on guys when I see they're really out of line and need it," the former South Panola star said. "Knowing when to get on someone is just part of being a leader and stepping up and playing your role."
Just because Sanford is one of the more mature leaders on the team doesn't mean that he can't have a little fun on the field. However, the fun isn't always funny to his teammates.
"I talk a lot of trash, but it just comes with being vocal," Sanford said with a smile. "But I mean if I'm trash-talking, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be hitting you hard at the same time to back it up."
Sanford has a lot of things going his way during his final season as a Rebel, beginning with a fresh start with first-year head coach Houston Nutt and his new coaching staff now at the helm.
The mindset of the entire team has changed to a positive, winning one, which is something that Sanford is very excited about.
"I love what Coach Nutt has brought with him, including his coaching staff," Sanford said. "Coach (Tyrone) Nix, Coach (Kim) Dameron and I, we see eye-to-eye. (Nix and Dameron) understand me and I understand them. I have a lot of respect for both of them.
"I just love the way they coach. They are smart coaches who help you with ball skills as well as breaking plays down."
During his final season in Oxford, Sanford is not only sporting his traditional No. 13 on his jersey, but is also wearing a No. 38 patch. He gets the privilege of wearing the No. 38 patch as the recipient of the 2008 Chucky Mullins Courage Award.
Mullins, who wore No. 38, was a defensive back for the Rebels whose career came to an early end in 1989 when he was paralyzed in a game against Vanderbilt.
"It's an honor to receive that award, and I just want to go out and try to represent it the best I can," Sanford said proudly.
As far as his goals for his fourth and final season as an Ole Miss Rebel, Sanford has only one thing on his mind - winning.
"I just want to go to a bowl game and go out winning games. It's not about me; it's really about the team just trying to win this year."
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