RaymondSanders III

Led the team in rushing last season … Has been a contributor throughout his first three seasons … Has added approximately 15 pounds in the weight room since signing with UK in 2010 … Good pass catcher and willing blocker in addition to his running skills … Also can return punts and kickoffs … Played in 29 games, including seven starts … One of 33 players in school history who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in his career … Career totals feature 1,078 rushing yards and eight touchdowns and has caught 39 passes for 238 yards and one TD.

2012 (Junior): Played in 11 games with three starts … Had his best season as he led team in rushing with 669 yards, an excellent 5.4 yards per carry, with five touchdowns … Had big games in both of Kentucky’s wins … Ran for 115 yards vs. Kent State, including a career-long 67-yard touchdown dash … Picked up a career-high 123 yards and a TD vs. Samford, going over 1,000 career yards in that game … Caught 18 passes for 111 yards … Averaged 22.3 yards on 10 kickoff returns.

2011 (Sophomore): Played in six games and started three … Rushed 40 times for 155 yards … Best game was eight carries for 62 yards vs. Central Michigan … Also caught five passes for 13 yards.

2010 (Freshman): Played in 12 games with one start … Rushed for 254 yards and three touchdowns … Also played well into Kentucky’s passing game, catching 16 passes for 114 yards and one touchdown … Had his best game vs. Georgia, gathering a career-high 79 yards on the ground and catching a career-high seven catches for 77 yards and a touchdown … Rushed for 71 yards in a starting assignment at Mississippi State … Ran for 32 yards and two touchdowns vs. Western Kentucky University … Also returned punts and kickoffs and made four tackles in kick coverage.

High School: Shifty running back showed all-around skills at Stephenson High School, with the ability to run from scrimmage, catch passes and return kicks … The nation’s No. 15 all-purpose back by Rivals.com and the No. 41 overall prospect in the talent-rich state of Georgia … “Very quick, has good vision, catches the ball well and runs like a 210-pound back,” wrote recruiting analyst Barry Every of Rivals, who also noted that Sanders “Reminds me of Rafael Little … has the uncanny ability to break tackles and make plays.” … Honorable-mention all-state by the Georgia Sports Writers Association and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution following senior season … Region Offensive Player of the Year as a senior, rushing for 1,604 yards and 25 touchdowns, averaging more than 10 yards per carry … Also returned a kickoff for a touchdown … Was the star of the show in a nationally televised game on ESPN, rushing for more than 130 yards and two touchdowns in Stephenson’s 20-0 win over Martin Luther King HS … Helped lead Stephenson to an 11-1 mark and the second round of the state playoffs … Rushed for 1,311 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior … Two-year member of the all-county and all-region teams … Played in the Georgia North-South All-Star Game and the DeKalb County All-Star Game following his senior year, playing for the winning team in both games … Coached by Ron Gartrell … “Raymond is a very intelligent player with a work ethic that is second to none,” Gartrell said. “He is very elusive, can run with power and has the burst to go 80-90 yards at any time. He is very determined and has leadership skills. He is the total package.” … Teammate of current Wildcats Jabari Johnson and Ronnie Shields … Participated in basketball and track and field … Ran the 100-meter dash and 4×100-meter relay … Won the regional championship and was a state qualifier in the 100 as a senior … Relay team won the state championship his junior year … Team’s defensive player of the year his senior season in basketball … Member of the Beta Club and SADD Club.

Personal: Born in Stone Mountain, Ga. … Son of Carla and Raymond Sanders Jr. … Major is kinesiology.

Community Cats: Helped with the Big Blue U Move-In (2011, `12).

Raymond Says … My nickname is: Ray-Ray … Other than the NFL, my dream job is: massage therapist … When I played football as a kid, I pretended I was: Barry Sanders … I couldn’t live without: my family … The one thing I like most about football is: winning and scoring touchdowns … Something people might not know about me is: I have a twin sister.