Barry Sanders, Jr. Chooses Stanford Over Oklahoma State

Heritage Hall running back Barry Sanders, Jr. made it official Saturday, announcing his commitment to play football for the Stanford Cardinal at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.

The top recruit in the state said it came down between the Cardinal and the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the team his father won a Heisman Trophy with more than 20 years ago. Sanders said he chose Stanford over the Cowboys because he wanted to make his own name, while getting an education from one of the top schools in the nation.

In his four years with the Chargers, he carried the ball 403 times for 3,825 yards and 55 touchdowns, including two seasons with more than 1,200 yards and 1,136 in an injury-shortened junior season.

Sanders joins the Cardinal's 17th-ranked recruiting class that includes two top-40 offensive line commits and becomes the top-ranked member of the class. Sanders' commitment could be enough to move the upcoming Stanford recruiting class into the top 15.

This season, Stanford rushed for 2,738 yards as a team, including 1,363 yards and 10 touchdowns from junior Stepfan Taylor. Sanders will join Taylor, junior Tyler Gaffney, sophomore Anthony Wilkerson in the Cardinal's backfield, along with 2011 four-star running backs Kelsey young and Remound Wright.