By David Hill, Freelancer
On first-and-10 in the second quarter of the Houston Cougars’ home opener against Oregon State, running back Re’Shaun Sanford II took a handoff to the left.
Fifty-six yards later, he danced into the end zone for the longest touchdown of his career.
“We repped that all week during practice; they told me that was going to be one of the biggest plays for us coming into the game,” Sanford said after a recent UH practice.
“The O-line blocked it well; Coach called it at the right time. Kolby (White) was out there and got a meaningful block, so it wouldn’t have happened without them. All I had to do was make one guy miss; they made the job easy for me. And then once I saw all the green grass I just took it and finished the play.”
The touchdown meant more than just six points for Sanford. In last year’s season opener, he wasn’t on the field juking defenders and scoring touchdowns. Instead, he was recovering from another ACL tear in his left knee, an injury he sustained just one week before the season’s first game.
Unfortunately, Sanford had been here before, having torn the ACL in his right knee as a freshman in 2023. Being sidelined by two significant injuries could dramatically impact a player’s production, especially a running back whose style relies heavily on quickness and agility.
But the Harker Heights native is defying the odds this season, leading the Cougars in total rushing yards (404 yards). Although he made no assumptions about how well he would perform upon his return, his belief in the work he put in during rehabilitation makes his success less surprising.
“You never know what to expect, but also I’m very confident in my preparation; preparation breeds confidence,” Sanford said. “The way I just prepared for my rehab, practice, to the game plan and everything that we’re doing. Me and my teammates believe in me, and all those things just instilled the confidence in me to know I can perform at my best.
“God put me in this position, and I’m just very blessed to be in this position.”
University of Houston quarterback Conner Weigman has enjoyed watching Sanford’s performance during his comeback this season.
“It’s been awesome to watch,” Weigman said. “To see that guy come back from not one but two ACL injuries and to have the explosiveness and power he has that he’s showing right now is cool to watch. Just give him the ball and let me get out of the way and let him make plays.”
As physically difficult as the road to recovery was, the mental hurdle proved just as significant for Sanford. Returning to the field with confidence in his abilities after suffering multiple injuries required another level of preparation and perseverance.
“I think most of it, while coming back, is the mental aspect of it,” Sanford said. “I did a really good job of taking care of myself mentally and again just preparing the right way, and it allowed me to go out there and play and not think about too much,”
“At the end of the day, those types of injuries are freak accidents. It’s not like a guarantee that you will or won’t get hurt; you just got to go out there and play. When you play hesitant it just never goes well. It’s better to go out there and play and just believe in your preparation.”
Sanford’s return has also helped spark a dynamic rushing attack alongside fellow RB Mahki Hughes, helping the Cougars rank fourth in the Big 12 in rushing yards.
“ Yeah, I was pumped. I raised my arm up because I knew he was gone, and nobody was going to catch him. When he came to the sidelines, I was like, ‘I’m proud of you, let’s go get another one.”
UH running back Mahki Hughes
Hughes, a transfer from Oregon, was eager to share the backfield with Sanford after learning about his rehabilitation and witnessing his talent firsthand during fall camp.
“I’m very excited to see him back. I heard about his injury, and he told me his story about it. He rehabbed so hard, you know, and seeing him in the fall just practice hard, and it’s just carried on into the game.” Hughes said after practice on Tuesday.
Both running backs rank among the Big 12’s top 10 in rushing yards, leaving minimal drop-off from one ballcarrier to the next. Like Sanford, Hughes credits the team’s balanced rushing attack to its preparation and attention to detail.
“We just practice hard and practice how we play, that’s what Coach always preach about, that’s what me and him (Sanford) preach about. Preparation really is just watching film, studying film together. That’s what leads to our success,” Hughes said.
Two knee surgeries in three years could have taken away Sanford’s drive to return to the field, along with his desire to play football. But giving up was never an option.
Instead, the setbacks pushed him to prove that his work ethic could carry him through adversity.
If you, having overcome multiple setbacks, could go back and offer advice to his younger self, what would he say?
“I would go back and tell myself just remain unbreakable,” Sanford said. “Tough times don’t ever last, and storms always pass. It’s just one of those things where you got to keep your head down and keep working and stay true to the preparation, and that will really help you in the long run. Coach (Willie) Fritz always says to go one and o, I mean it’s really more of a mentally thing more than it is just winning a football game. It’s in everything we do, trying to win at everything and dominating it.”