Barry J. Sanders Explains His Decision to Transfer to OSU

Dennis Dodd wrote a really, really interesting piece on Barry J. Sanders last week, the son of former OSU Heisman winner and soon to be graduate transfer from Stanford.

In it, it’s pretty clear his reasoning for going to Stanford had a lot to do with blazing his own trail. No surprise.

Even Mike Gundy knew that was the case. “I think there was an issue with comparisons,” Gundy told CBS. ‘Do I really want to listen to that for four years?’ … Now he’s a college graduate. He’s here. His mom is in Oklahoma City. He’s got all of his friends. It’s not as demanding as it was out there at Stanford.”

But now, Barry J. is embracing the comparisons. “I wouldn’t say comparisons are the worst,” Barry J. told CBS Sports. “I’ve had comparisons my whole career. I don’t see it being any less than it normally would.”

Which is true. I’m not the son of a former Heisman trophy winner, but I can imagine that growing up as the son of one of the best college football players ever, comparisons just become part of your life. And he’s learned to deal with it.

He also explained why he chose to use his option as a graduate transfer, and chose Oklahoma State:

“When I made the decision, I knew I wanted to take my fifth year elsewhere,” Barry J. said. “I knew I wanted to be around as many familiar people as I could. I wanted to be in a place where I could compete for the starting job. It made great sense for me to go to Oklahoma State.”

And now we get the chance to see Barry J. in the orange and black for his final collegiate season. Is he going to win the Heisman trophy? Maybe not. But Sanders is right, it makes great sense for him to head to Stillwater, where his desire to be more involved in an offense could be met.

In three years of playing at Stanford, Sanders compiled only 672 rushing yards. Not exactly attractive. But he has averaged 5.8 yards per carry and got stuck playing behind the likes of Christian McCaffrey, Tyler Gafney, and other workhorse backs who have stolen the show.

Sanders, at the least, will be a veteran presence, and at best could become an every down back who takes full advantage of a scenery change.

Regardless of the statistics he puts up, it’s going to be pretty awesome to see Barry J. on the field next fall.