CAREER NOTES:
Veteran back who has overcome ACL injuries to both knees during his career • proven dangerous kickoff returner • has played in 33 games as a Gopher • has totaled 464 rushing yards on 84 carries during his career with five rushing touchdowns • has also averaged 22.8 yards on 25 career kickoff returns, with a 91-yard touchdown during the 2007 campaign at Florida Atlantic.

2008 • JUNIOR SEASON:
Saw action in all 13 games • gained 24 yards on seven rushing attempts and hauled in two passes for four yards • averaged 19.1 yards on nine kickoff returns with a long of 35 yards • also collected nine special teams tackles and a forced fumble • earned third letter. Game-by-Game:  averaged 22.7 yards on three kickoff returns with a long of 35 yards in the season opener vs. Northern Illinois (8/30) • tallied three tackles on special teams and forced a fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half that led to a Minnesota touchdown at Bowling Green (9/6) • credited with a solo special teams tackle vs. Montana State (9/13) • rushed four times for 23 yards and hauled in an 11-yard pass to go with three special teams tackles vs. Florida Atlantic (9/20) • earned playing time at Ohio State (9/27) but did not record any statistics • had one carry for six yards, two receptions for four yards and a 25-yard kickoff return vs. Indiana (10/4) • had a 14-yard kickoff return at Illinois (10/11) • saw action on special teams but did not register any statistics at Purdue (10/25) • returned a kickoff 14 yards against Northwestern (11/1) • credited with a 19-yard kickoff return against Michigan (11/8) • did not record any offensive statistics but did collect two special teams tackles at Wisconsin (11/15) • lost five yards on a pair of carries vs. Iowa (11/22) • returned one kickoff for 21 yards vs. Kansas (12/31).

2007 • SOPHOMORE SEASON: Saw action in the first eight games of the year with one start before suffering a season-ending knee injury vs. North Dakota State • rushed for 215 yards and one touchdown on 40 attempts and led the Gophers’ backfield in yards per carry (5.4) • finished with seven receptions for 81 yards • averaged 31.3 yards on 10 kickoff returns • return average would have ranked third in the nation with enough attempts • Game-by-Game: averaged 32.0 yards on two kickoff returns in the season opener vs. Bowling Green (9/1) • had one carry for one yard and a 23-yard kickoff return vs. Miami (Ohio) (9/8) • averaged 46.7 yards on three kickoff returns, including a 91-yard touchdown, at Florida Atlantic (9/15) • also rushed for 14 yards on three attempts and had three receptions for 17 yards vs. the Owls • rushed four times for 24 yards and scored his lone rushing touchdown of the season vs. Purdue (9/22) • had one carry for three yards and four kickoff returns for 78 yards against Ohio State (9/29) • rushed eight times for 58 yards and had two receptions for 49 yards, including a season-long 30-yarder, at Indiana (10/6) • totaled 100 yards on 22 carries for his first career 100-yard rushing performance in lone start of the season at Northwestern (10/13) • gained 15 yards but suffered a season-ending knee injury on his only carry of the game vs. North Dakota State (10/20).

2006 • FRESHMAN SEASON: Appeared in 12 of 13 games • rushed 37 times for 225 yards and four touchdowns • Game-by-Game: made his Golden Gopher debut at Cal (9/9) • had one carry for three yards against the Bears • rushed twice for 31 yards against Temple (9/16) • had six carries for 79 yards and scored the first two touchdowns of his career against Indiana (11/4) • rushed six times for 10 yards and one touchdown at Michigan State (11/11) • scored a touchdown for the third straight game in the season finale against Iowa (11/18) • had a career-high 15 carries and caught the first pass of his career against the Hawkeyes • carried six times for 21 yards against Texas Tech (12/29) • participated in 206 plays • earned first letter.

2005: Redshirted.

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2005 graduate of Tartan High School (Minn.) • high school coach was Tim Hickey • tabbed as the 18th-best all-purpose back in the country by Rivals • selected as a PrepStar All-Midwest Region performer • named the 2004 Pioneer Press Football Player of the Year and a first-team all-state choice by the Associated Press • named to the KARE-11 and Star Tribune All-Metro teams his senior season • three-time all-conference and all-state selection • led the metro area in rushing in 2004 with a school record 1,549 yards on 154 attempts • also set school records for career rushing yards (3,083), career rushing touchdowns (27), career kickoff returns for touchdowns (6), and rushing touchdowns in a season (14) and a game (6) • also lettered in basketball and track • finished third in the 100-meter (10.77) and 200-meter dash (21.49) at the state meet.

PERSONAL: Communications studies major • son of Jim Thomas and Delene and Rory Sanders • born June 29, 1987.