Weslye Saunders; Where does he go from here?

Number 88. South Carolina Gamecocks. Tight end. Senior. Durham, North Carolina. Sound familiar? Yes, we’re talking about the football player we know and love, Mr. Weslye Saunders. Saunders has the potential to be intimidating, standing at 6’6, but that is the last word one would use to describe him. He greets everyone he sees with a big smile and hello. Although surrounded by much controversy and scandal for the last few months, Weslye has kept his head up and continued to stay grounded. He was suspended from Carolina’s football team on August 23^rd and was finally released from the team on September 15^th.

For those who are unaware, he has been investigated by the NCAA since this summer. A trip to South Beach was investigated for possible agent contact, but Saunders retorted by saying he traveled to Miami for spring break his senior year of college and the trip was funded entirely by his mother. There was also a lengthy investigation regarding his stay at The Whitney Hotel in Columbia. Saunders and nine other players were living there over the summer, and Saunders was the only one who did not leave when Coach Steve Spurrier asked him to. It is rumored that Weslye owed around $5,000 to the Whitney. When asked why he didn’t leave, Saunders couldn’t comment, but stated that his debt was cleared up along with everyone else’s.

Saunders appears to be dealing well with the controversy and the situation as a whole. He stated that he has no regrets and there’s nothing he’d like to tell the public at the moment. Weslye also commented that he felt the University did what they needed to do, and he harbors absolutely no hard feelings for Coach Spurrier; he loves him.

Many sports analysts have commented that Saunders would have been a first round draft pick, and a few fans were curious to know if Weslye himself still thought he would be. In response to questions about going to the NFL, he simply stated that he would be “so devastated if [he] was not let back,  [he’s] not really thinking about the NFL- [he] wants to be back out there with [his] brothers.” He was adamant about the fact that he is in no way thinking about the NFL at the moment, and continued to say that he only wants to be back on Carolina’s football team right now.

Many were curious to know how frequently Saunders thinks players are offered and accept money. While he could not comment on others’ behalves, he said “[the] bad thing about football or sports in general is that any regular student can take anything from anybody if they want to give it to you. In Columbia [he] met so many genuine, nice people who may or may not have ulterior motives that want to help young college athletes out; it just so happens to be a violation if you take things just for the simple fact that you play football.” He was asked if he thinks other high profile players (like Alabama’s wide receiver, Julio Jones) have accepted money from either college coaches or agents, and could again only state that he couldn’t speak for anyone else.

The Gamecocks defensive end, Devin Taylor, commented that an agent has not ever offered him money. He was also asked if he thought players often accepted money and just didn’t get caught, to which he responded: “not that often because somehow the information always gets around.” He wants Saunders to return to the team because he considers him to be a good athlete who makes plays on the field. When asked if he thought Weslye was treated fairly by the University and also the NCAA, he said he believes he was treated in a way that was best for the situation.

So what comes next for Saunders? He had a meeting with the NCAA last weekend and can say that his reinstatement to the University of South Carolina’s football team now lays in the hands of Coach Spurrier and athletic director Eric Hyman. All he can do now is continue to focus on the University, schoolwork, and getting back on the team. He also genuinely appreciates the support from fans he’s been getting, like the facebook group entitled “Gamecock Nation in Support of Saunders.” He certainly hasn’t given up hope to return to the team and is thankful for everyone’s encouragement.