2000 Football Roster
Anthony Saunders
- Position:
- Fullback
- Height:
- 6-1
- Weight:
- 225
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Greensboro, N.C.
- High School:
- Western Guilford
Had a very impressive spring. Showed a great work ethic, especially in improving as a lead blocking back. Has played both tailback and fullback at Carolina. Rushed for a team-high and career-best 110 yards at Georgia Tech last fall. Enters preseason drills as the starter at fullback.
1999 -- Sophomore Season
Played in nine games and made four starts at tailback. Was the second-leading rusher with 297 yards on 75 carries. Averaged 33.0 yards per game and 4.0 yards per attempt. Had a season-high 110 yards on 17 carries in the overtime loss at seventh-ranked Georgia Tech. That was the top rushing game by a Tar Heel in 1999. Sprained his ankle in the fourth quarter of that game and was unable to play in overtime. That injury limited him to just 16 carries in the next four games. Was outstanding in the win at Indiana. Carried 18 times for 67 yards and a touchdown. Scored on a bruising, 8-yard run up the middle early in the fourth quarter. Rushed 12 times for 48 yards against No. 1 Florida State. Caught two passes, one an 18-yard touchdown from Ronald Curry against Virginia. That score (and the two-point conversion that followed) tied the game in the final quarter.
1998 -- Freshman Season
Saw action at both fullback and tailback. Earned his first collegiate start in the Las Vegas Bowl against San Diego State. Had 17 carries for 39 yards in UNC’s win. Had 16 carries the entire regular season. Gained 55 yards with a season-high 13 yards on three carries at Florida State and 10 yards on three attempts against NC State. His first collegiate carry was a seven-yard gain at Stanford.
Western Guilford High School
Set North Carolina high school records for career rushing yards, carries, touchdowns, rushing touchdowns and 100-yard games. Most Valuable Player of the 1996 Shrine Bowl as he led the North Carolina prep stars to victory with 102 yards on 18 carries. First-team all-state selection in 1995 and 1996. Three-time conference player of the year. Played for Coach Charlie Griffin. State career rushing leader with 7,782 yards, one of the top 20 figures in national high school history. Rushed a state-record 371 times for 2,793 yards and 30 touchdowns as a senior. Rushed for 424 yards and five touchdowns in the second round of the state 3-A playoffs. That followed a junior year in which he rushed 341 times for 2,326 yards and 37 touchdowns. Carried the ball 296 times for 2,155 yards and 28 scores as sophomore and 124 times for 508 yards and five touchdowns as a freshman. Scored 103 career touchdowns, including 100 rushing, and had 40 career 100-yard games. Rushed for over 100 yards in each of his last 40 career contests. Also played basketball and ran track. Scholar-Athlete Award.
Personal
Born Anthony Lamont Saunders on July 19, 1978. Majoring in English. Favorite pro team is the Washington Redskins. Other favorite sport is track.
Anthony Saunders’ Regular-Season Statistics
Year Rush Yds Ave TD LP 1998 16 55 5.0 0 7 1999 75 297 4.0 1 25 Totals 91 352 3.9 1 25
