CAM SADDLER -- GATEWAY RB-DB
Depending on the day and his mood, Cam Saddler will tell you he's anywhere from 5 feet 7 to 5-9.
No matter the variance, Saddler is small -- except in the eyes of the Gateway football team. To the Gators, he's Yao Ming.
"He's the lifeline of our team," said Gateway coach Terry Smith. "He wills this team. They look at him and see his size and stature and see everything he does, and I think it motivates them."
Saddler is a senior running back/defensive back/kick-returner. Despite his size, big colleges have recruited him to play slotback and return kicks. West Virginia, Michigan, Virginia and Syracuse are his finalists.
Last season, Saddler returned five kickoffs for touchdowns, one short of the national record. He averaged 36.1 yards on 20 kickoff returns, rushed for 1,045 yards, and the average length of his 20 touchdowns was 42.1 yards.
Saddler has a vibrant personality and loves to play practical jokes on his teammates.
"I guess I am what I am because of my upbringing," Saddler said. "My dad is never serious. Guys come over the house all the time after practice just to hear some of the things he says. My mom is always happy, too. Dealing with those two has made me the person I am. I do well in school, too, because I would get knocked out if I didn't."
As for this season?
"We know defenses are going to play nine in the box against us," Saddler said. "But I've got all the trust in the world in those fat hogs up front on the line. They're great."
-- By Mike White
