On Sanders: The Terps' top defensive back and a candidate for the 2000 Thorpe Award presented to the country's top defensive back … versatile multi-purpose performer who keyed Terps' secondary improvements and was once listed as high as No. 5 among 1999 Thorpe Award candidates by ESPN.com … one of the nation's top cover men and return specialists … sparked the Terps to a No. 2 national ranking in kickoff returns and No. 11 post in turnover margin in his first season back from injury … nationally-ranked all of his junior campaign in interceptions and kickoff returns, recording nine total takeaways to lead the country … excellent size, speed and physical tools at the corner position … has become a student of the game, dedicating numerous hours to film study ... moved to cornerback in 1999 after missing the 1998 season and a post at free safety as a sophomore … can still play safety in nickel situations … sat out the 1998 fall season while recuperating from surgery to repair nerve damage in his shoulder suffered in final game of 1997 season ... returned for his redshirt junior campaign as a significant addition to a young and improved secondary … has made 21 career starts … on pace to threaten Maryland career marks for interceptions and kickoff returns … tied for seventh among Maryland career theft leaders with 10 … enters his senior campaign seven interceptions shy of the Terrapins' career mark (17 by Tom Brown, 1960-62) … sixth among Terp career kickoff return leaders with 956 yards (24.5) on 39 returns … 564 yards shy of Maryland's career record (1,520 by Keeta Covington, 1983-86) for kickoff return yards … shares Maryland career mark with two kickoff returns for touchdown.

1999: Third-team All-American by The Sporting News and an honorable mention All-America pick by Football News … ranked among the NCAA leaders in kickoff return average and interceptions for most of the season, finishing 10th nationally in picks (0.55) and 12th nationally in kickoff return average (26.78) … finished the season tied for the national lead in takeaways (6 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries) … led the NCAA for several weeks in interceptions, kickoff returns and takeaways … led the ACC in interceptions and was fourth in pass breakups (13) … posted exactly one interception in each of the Terps' first five games, and had six in his first seven games … returned 18 kickoffs for 482 yards and a 26.8-yard average … average was second-best in Maryland history, total yards were ninth … helped Maryland to No. 2 NCAA ranking in kickoff returns as a team (26.4) … scored a pair of touchdowns, one on a 98-yard kickoff return against Western Carolina and the other just a week later on a 28-yard fumble return against West Virginia … ended Heisman Trophy candidate Joe Hamilton's streak of 94 passes without an interception to begin the season … developed a penchant for big play deflections and interceptions … batted down a third-down pass at the goal line at NC State to force the Wolfpack into a field goal … stopped a potential go-ahead touchdown by Wake Forest with an interception at the 3-yard line … batted down a pass inside the 20-yard line on a fake punt against West Virginia … voted ACC special teams player of the week after returning two kickoffs for 120 yards and a TD against Western Carolina … ACC defensive player of the week a week later after a key deflection, an interception and the fumble recovery for TD against the Mountaineers … first player in five years to earn ACC weekly honors for special teams and offense/defense.

1998: Redshirted due to shoulder injury suffered in final game of 1997 at Georgia Tech.

1997: Appeared in 10 games (all starts) as the Terps' No. 1 free safety ... totaled 74 tackles to rank third on the squad ... had 54 solo stops ... his four interceptions tied for third in the ACC ... had three interceptions (all in the first half) in a non-conference win over Temple ... finished fifth in the ACC in kickoff return average (24.2) ... returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown vs. North Carolina ... responsible for seven takeaways (four interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one fumble caused) ... had 10 or more tackles three times, including a career-high 12 vs. Clemson ... also had 10 each vs. West Virginia and North Carolina State.

1996: Played in all 11 games as a true freshman, seeing action in the defensive secondary and on special teams ... totaled six tackles.

High School: Graduated from St. Peter's Prep in 1996 ... earned BlueChip Illustrated All-America honors and was selected All-East by Tom Lemming and the National Recruiting Advisor ... was an all-star selection by the New York Daily News and Long Island Newsday ... was an all-league choice as a junior and senior ... rushed for 800 yards and scored 10 touchdowns as a senior ... high school coach was Bill Sullivan.

Personal: Lewis Lindell Sanders … born June 22, 1978 ... son of Vanessa and Lewis Sanders ... majoring in criminology and criminal justice.

Defense	G-GS	UT	AT	TT	TFL	Sacks	Int
1996	11-0	4	2	6/0.5	1-0	1.0-4	0-0
1997	10-10	54	20	74/7.4	4-19	1.0-12	4-99
1998	injured
1999	11-11	43	13	56/5.1	0-0	0.0-0	6-37
Totals	32-21	101	35	135/4.3	5-19	2.0-16	10-136
Kickoff Returns	G-GS	Ret	Yds	Avg	TD	LP
1996	11-0	2	14	7.0	0	14
1997	10-10	19	460	24.2	1	90
1998	injured
1999	11-11	18	482	26.8	1	98
Totals	32-21	39	956	24.5	2	98

Lewis Sanders Class: Senior Hometown: Staten Island, N.Y. High School: St. Peter's Prep Height / Weight: 6-1 / 200 Position: Cornerback Birthdate: 06/22/1978 Experience: 2V Honors: first team All-ACC, third team All-American