2018 Former 4* QB Cord Sandberg Commits to Auburn!!!

[ellitor 33,062]

Update 7/30/18: Committed to Auburn & will enroll August 5th.

• Spent the last six years playing minor league baseball in the Philadelphia Phillies organization

• Plans to arrive on campus next week and will technically be a member of Auburn's 2018 recruiting class

• Has 5 years to play 4 seasons

• Gives Auburn four scholarship quarterbacks on this year's roster, along with Jarrett Stidham, Malik Willis and Joey Gatewood

• Sandberg was a four-star prospect coming out of Manatee High in Bradenton, Fla., where he was ranked as the No. 8 dual-threat quarterback in the country, the No. 33 player in Florida and the No. 232 prospect in the 2013 class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.

 

Quote

Evaluation

Sandberg helped Manatee in a big way in 2011 when they won the state title. He was at his best in the biggest games and that is the type of player he is. He finds a way to get it done. He is a dual-threat quarterback who can run, who can buy time in the pocket, and who can extend a play. He throws the ball well on the move and he he is very cool in the pocket. He is a quarterback can make plays. - Chad Simmons

 

More details in the article below. 
 

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This baseball player is retiring to play college football. How it might impact QBs in SEC

By Jason Dill

Coming out of high school, Cord Sandberg had the option to play professional baseball or college football. Sandberg, the dual-threat quarterback on Manatee High's last state football title in 2011, pursued baseball in the Philadelphia Phillies organization over playing at Mississippi State when he graduated in 2013.

On Wednesday, Sandberg, 23, publicly announced his baseball dream was ending so he could chase his football dream.

"I felt it was time to go to college, get an education and at the same time play a little football and pursue that dream," Sandberg told the Bradenton Herald after six seasons with the Phillies, where he reached as high as Double-A. "... And if for some reason I never start a college football game ever, I can at 28 be like, 'OK, I gave it all I had to both, but now I have a four-year degree and I can move on with the next part of my life.'"

Sandberg said he knew after five or six seasons, he'd have to make a decision about football. And he said he was the fourth outfielder in Double-A before injuries gave him some playing time this year.

"I was kind of just the same player that I had kind of been," Sandberg said. "A solid, just average Double-A guy hitting .240 or whatever it was and a handful of homers."

So Sandberg began thinking, talking with his family and praying hard on what to do. A bus trip from New Hampshire back to Reading, Pennsylvania, for a nine-game homestand a couple weeks ago was when Sandberg made his decision.

"I just didn't feel like wasting any more time," he said. "I truly felt that at this time next year, I would be in the same position. I was ready to move on."

Cardinal Mooney assistant coach Chris Conboy, who was an assistant at Manatee when Sandberg played, connected Sandberg with some of the college coaches he previously talked with during his initial recruitment out of Manatee High.

Sandberg said he's talked with four schools so far: Florida, LSU, Auburn and UCF. Dan Mullen, the head coach with the Gators, recruited Sandberg, who drew comparisons to Tim Tebow for his playing style in high school, when he was at Mississippi State. Sandberg was a four-star prospect and the No. 33 overall ranked player in Florida coming out of high school, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

Mullen was the Gators' offensive coordinator during Tebow's time in Gainesville.

Both Florida and LSU are preferred walk-on situations, while Auburn and UCF are offering full-ride scholarships.

"My main goal is going for the place with the best situation," Sandberg said. "With my Phillies contract that I had, I do have some money for schooling through the Phillies. So, if for some reason I decided to go a place that was a walk-on situation for maybe a year or two, the Phillies would be able to pay my tuition and books and all that stuff. I'd be able to make that work until I was on scholarship, if I felt that was the right situation."

Sandberg said he'll take some official visits in late July and wants to be enrolled at a campus before classes begin in late August.

There are also no favorites to land Sandberg. It's still early in the process, he said.

 

Read more here: https://www.bradenton.com/sports/article214358354.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: https://www.bradenton.com/sports/article214358354.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: https://www.bradenton.com/sports/article214358354.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: https://www.bradenton.com/sports/article214358354.html#storylink=cpy

 

Read more here: https://www.bradenton.com/sports/article214358354.html#storylink=cpy

 

Edited July 31, 2018 by ellitor
Added to OP

[McLoofus 35,182]

12 minutes ago, ellitor said:

So AU has reportedly offered former minor leaguer Cord Sandberg a full ride scholly. He was a 4* QB out of high school 5 years ago. More details in the article below. Will see how this develops before creating a thread on him.
Read more here: https://www.bradenton.com/sports/article214358354.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: https://www.bradenton.com/sports/article214358354.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: https://www.bradenton.com/sports/article214358354.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: https://www.bradenton.com/sports/article214358354.html#storylink=cpy

 

Read more here: https://www.bradenton.com/sports/article214358354.html#storylink=cpy

 

1. Has a GREAT football name.
2. Has the metrics.
3. Wein
     Ke!
    Wein
     Ke!
4. Mullen compared him to Tebow? Sure, why not?!
5. Sounds like he's fully prepared to embrace his role and appreciate the opportunity to earn a scholarship.
6. Mid-20s backup QB while we bring along whichever young guys we're going with? Don't mind if we do.
7. Eliminates a lot of the risk of moving Gatewood to another position. 
8. Left-handed. Jack Driscoll's QB at UMass was left-handed. Gus is clearly planning to recreate the UMass version of the HUNH. I mean, for God's sake, they're called the Minutemen. Buckle up, gang. We're about to go plaid. 

[steeleagle 2,945]

I think coming from FL, his best bets are UCF 1st, then FL. At 23, he needs to play quickly, so by his SO year he needs to start, if he wants a chance at the NFL. It didnt work out too well for a late bloomer just a few years ago, Brandon Weeden at 28 years old who is now with his 3rd team, as a backup QB.

I think we have such strong backup QBs for the future, I don't see him getting the rust off with us....

[Mikey 16,545]

I don't know why we'd offer a QB that hasn't played football in five years. Unless the coaches don't feel as good about the current situation as the fans feel, we don't have a need for this guy.

[GwillMac6 20,596]

1 minute ago, Mikey said:

I don't know why we'd offer a QB that hasn't played football in five years. Unless the coaches don't feel as good about the current situation as the fans feel, we don't have a need for this guy.

How long was Weinke out of football before he played for FSU and won the Heisman? How about Weeden before he became a first round draft pick for OK ST? He is a very talented kid. Let's roll the dice.  Dan Mullen the QB guru wanted him so I def want him. 

[Gowebb11 9,302]

I wish he could play offensive tackle. 

[The Plainsman 948]

Could be an excellent FG/ExtPT holder too.  

[GwillMac6 20,596]

3 minutes ago, abw0004 said:

Agree with what you are saying, my only question is if Mullen liked him so much why only offer a walk-on spot with their current QB’s not performing well?  If Mullen likes him so much, why not offer a scholarship?

[ellitor 33,062]

4 hours ago, steeleagle said:

It didnt work out too well for a late bloomer just a few years ago, Brandon Weeden at 28 years old who is now with his 3rd team, as a backup QB.

May not be exactly what he wants but I'd say that is working out damn well overall. He's making nearly $900k to play pro football. I'd do a lot to be in that situation.

[ellitor 33,062]

3 hours ago, Mikey said:

I don't know why we'd offer a QB that hasn't played football in five years. Unless the coaches don't feel as good about the current situation as the fans feel, we don't have a need for this guy.

Don't forget. The staff wants 4 QBs on scholly at all times if they can. Barring injury Chances are high Stidham leaves after the season. That leaves Malik, Joey, & Bo for 2019. As others have said, It is still very possible Joey ends up at another position like TE or WR. If that were to happen we would need another QB on roster for depth. Even if this kid didn't hypothetically ever start or didn't get to til his SR year after Bo potentially goes pro he could be a great asset to our QB core by bringing life experience & maturity to this young group of QBs.

[ellitor 33,062]

3 hours ago, Gowebb11 said:

I wish he could play offensive tackle. 

[ellitor 33,062]

3 hours ago, AUinGA44 said:

We’ve got a scholarship open

Actually we don't til January.

3 hours ago, AUinGA44 said:

we only signed so few in February. 

What do you mean here? We signed &/or enrolled 24 by February then added Driscoll who finished our yearly initial counter limit of 25.

Despite the report I don't think Cord could go on scholly at AU til January.

 

[ellitor 33,062]

2 hours ago, steeleagle said:

I don't think it is a matter of how Auburn wants him, but whether he feels Auburn is a good fit.

I am sure teams always recruit QBs, because so many fall by the wayside once they get into the college system. Auburn is no different.

But Cord will decide based on location and probably his best chance to play quickly...I just don't see that being at AU.

I don't think there is a situation he plays quickly unless he looks to lower levels.

[ellitor 33,062]

2 hours ago, mustache eagle said:

additionally, wouldn't there be the possibility that sandberg would be a walk-on ... most likely baseball paying for his college?

If the school needs that to happen, yes.

[ellitor 33,062]

2 hours ago, abw0004 said:

Agree with what you are saying, my only question is if Mullen liked him so much why only offer a walk-on spot with their current QB’s not performing well?  If Mullen likes him so much, why not offer a scholarship?

Maybe he doesn't have room under his 85 or something. Or signed enough recruit + taken enough transfers to hit their 25 limit.

[djg0017 726]

If he’s interested in playing for AU I say sign him up! Not worried about scholly numbers because he seems far more flexible with that than the average recruit

[ellitor 33,062]

I think there's enough posts on Cord to create a thread on him regardless of where this goes. Give me a few guys.

[GwillMac6 20,596]

6 hours ago, steeleagle said:

I think coming from FL, his best bets are UCF 1st, then FL. At 23, he needs to play quickly, so by his SO year he needs to start, if he wants a chance at the NFL. It didnt work out too well for a late bloomer just a few years ago, Brandon Weeden at 28 years old who is now with his 3rd team, as a backup QB.

I think we have such strong backup QBs for the future, I don't see him getting the rust off with us....

Weeden was a first round NFL draft choice. We have only had 3 in our whole history as a program for Quarterbacks in the NFL draft. I would say it worked out great for him and Oklahoma State. He threw for 4K yards in back to back seasons and led them to a New Years 6 bowl win. I would gladly take all of that here in a heartbeat.

Edited July 6, 2018 by GwillMac6

[fredst 9,064]

22 minutes ago, GwillMac6 said:

Weeden was a first round NFL draft choice. We have only had 3 in our whole history as a program for Quarterbacks in the NFL draft. I would say it worked out great for him and Oklahoma State. He threw for 4 yards in back to back seasons and led them to a New Years 6 bowl win. I would gladly take all of that here in a heartbeat.

Any dude that only threw for 4 yards in a whole damn season has no business getting drafted in the first round. I hope that GM got fired...

Edited July 6, 2018 by fredst

[GwillMac6 20,596]

1 minute ago, fredst said:

Any dude that only threw for 4 yards in a whole damn season has no business getting drafted in the first round. I hope that GM got fired...

To be fair it was a REALLY amazing 4 yards. Which you had been there mr fred! lol

[ellitor 33,062]

Added recruiting profile, evaluation, & SR highlights to the OP.

[corchjay 5,311]

I remember us recruiting him in his senior season.  

 

But man... In the entire highlight video I didn't see 1 crossing route or intermediate route at all.  That manatee OC must suck.  

[McLoofus 35,182]

1 minute ago, corchjay said:

I remember us recruiting him in his senior season.  

But man... In the entire highlight video I didn't see 1 crossing route or intermediate route at all.  That manatee OC must suck.  

So Gus really does run a high school offense?

[corchjay 5,311]

2 minutes ago, McLoofus said:

So Gus really does run a high school offense?

No doubt.

[NorthGATiger 1,801]

10 hours ago, corchjay said:

I remember us recruiting him in his senior season.  

 

But man... In the entire highlight video I didn't see 1 crossing route or intermediate route at all.  That manatee OC must suck.  

You missed the point lol.  This is why Gus is so high on him.  He won't have to retrain this guy to a passing tree concept lacking branches.  Cord, do you know anything about the WR screen?  Yes sir.  We ran it on 40% of our passing plays in high school.  That's great news son.  In high school did your team run any routes other than the WR screen that were less than 20 yard routes?  No sir.  We ran the WR screen to suck the defense up and then 60% of our remaining pass plays were deep balls.  Son I'm gonna tell ya that you have a tremendous chance of seeing a large amount of time on the field here.