Adairsville SR two-way athlete Colton Sanford was instrumental in last week’s 33-17 upset win over NW Whitfield. In a game where the Tigers were a 21-point underdog, the senior had 148 all-purpose yards, two receiving touchdowns, 7 tackles, and 2 pass breakups to help his team pull off the biggest upset of Week 10.
On Monday, Sanford was picked among the top players from Week 10, and 24 hours later, he was voted the player of the week.
“My senior year of football has been full of ups and downs. Whether it’s dealing with injuries all year and playing through it or leading the team and building strong bonds. There were tough games, great moments, and a lot of memories. We’ve been grinding to get better and be 1-0 every week,” he said.
Through 8 games on the season, Sanford has 779 all-purpose yards, 6 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, and 42 tackles. His impact pulled off the big win, positioning Adairsville as the #2 team in region play with a 3-1 record.
“My personal goals are to have over 1,000 APY and have over 60 tackles on the year. Another goal I have set is to be named 1st team all-region. Our team’s goal is to host a playoff game and get 2nd in the region,” he said.
After graduating several impact players from the talented 2024 team, Adairsville had to reconvene, pull together new impact players, but now, they are playing their best football. One steadying factor is a senior like Sanford, who provides leadership and consistency, leading by example every step of the way.
“What separates me from other players is my work ethic and consistency. I don’t just show up on game days; I put in the extra work every day, whether it’s film study, weight room, or conditioning. I’m always trying to get 1% better,” he said.
On the recruiting front, Sanford said that he has offers from Sewanne, Reinhardt, Point, Maryville, Cumberlands, Capital, and St. Norbert. The senior has an upcoming visit to Centre College on November 1st, but aside from that, his recruiting schedule remains open.
The final few months should get busy, though. The 5’9″ 175 lbs. Sanford has an excellent feel for the game, adeptly reading the field, showing great pursuit angles and acceleration to the football. Sanford’s athleticism and speed towards the football were instrumental in the upset win against NW Whitfield.
His film is downright explosive, and he boasts an impressive 3.9 GPA, so Sanford is the consummate student-athlete. And while the smaller programs have offered, we believe local programs, especially ones looking for PWOs, should be interested, so be sure to follow @RecruitGeorgia to hear the latest offers and recruiting news on Sanford and athletes across the state of Georgia.
