Nevada’s Bentlee Sanders (20) has had a hand in seven turnovers for the Wolf Pack defense this season.
Photo by Steve Ranson.
Nevada safety Bentlee Sanders, one of the nation’s interception leaders, was named to the Associated Press midseason All-America Team, the organization said Tuesday.
Sanders is one of three FBS-level players with five interceptions on the season, along with Emmanuel Forbes of Mississippi State and Clark Phillips III of Utah. All three players were recognized by the AP on Tuesday.
Former Wolf Pack linebacker Daiyan Henley also made the mid-season team. He now plays at Washington State.
Sanders has also forced two fumbles and has 42 tackles (30 solo) through the Wolf Pack’s first seven games this season. He was the only Mountain West representative on the AP’s mid-season team.
Nevada's opportunistic defense ranks in the national top 10 in takeaways (15, seventh), interceptions (10, eighth), and turnover margin (1.29, ninth). Five of Sanders' seven forced takeaways (five interceptions, two forced fumbles recovered by Nevada) have resulted in points for the Wolf Pack.
Sanders is in his second season with Nevada. He played at South Florida from 2017 to 2020, where he had two career interceptions.
Other members of the AP’s All-America team announced Tuesday include Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker; Michigan running back Blake Corum; UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu; and Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
Nevada returns home Saturday for a Mountain West game against San Diego State (7:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network).
Wolf Pack football
Who: San Diego State at Nevada
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Mackay Stadium
TV/radio: CBS-SN; 94.5 FM
Line: SDSU by 7; total of 36.5
Notable: The teams’ last four games were decided by five or less points