What started as a cruel joke could’ve derailed Chase Sanders’ football dreams for good.
The 6-foot-5 Cy-Fair High School senior wide receiver was the target of a fake scholarship prank, an experience that left him humiliated, doubting himself and facing a senior season with minimal offers. But instead of folding, Sanders responded the only way he knew how, with production, persistence and pride.
Now, he’s committed to Texas Southern University to play in front of his hometown crowd, proving that heart, not hype, is what really counts.
Like many high school athletes, a phone call from a college coach offering a scholarship opportunity is a major boost of confidence. On November 28, 2024, Sanders received what he thought was a call from what he believed to be the University of Incarnate Word.
“I was in the car with my brother going to a friend’s house when I received the call,” said Sanders. “Everything seemed real, I was excited as I told my brother, friends and family.”
On the phone, Sanders and the person on the other end set up what Sanders believed to be a visit, an opportunity to see the facilities and meet the coaching staff.
“Shortly after, my family and I drove down to the college and talked to coaches, but something didn’t feel right,” said Sanders. “They spoke with me, but the coach whom I thought I was talking to on the phone seemed not to know who I was; he even asked my name, which had me confused.”
Sanders spent about an hour speaking with the coach he thought had called him. But after leaving the campus, he received a text from that same coach.
“The text read, ‘Who offered you from our staff?’” said Sanders. “I told him the name I received from the phone call earlier and that’s when he informed me that the particular coach didn’t make the phone call and my offer was fake. My heart dropped.”
What would have been Sanders’ first offer quickly turned into confusion, anger and embarrassment.
“It left me in tears seeing all my friends have multiple offers and me not having any. I received what I thought was going to be my first one and then it turned out to be a prank,” said Sanders. “I felt extremely embarrassed because only my family and I knew it was fake, while everyone else thought it was real. They congratulated me on a social media post I made, but I quietly deleted the post after learning it wasn’t true.”
“You could tell he was disappointed and a little shocked that what had happened was true,” said Cy-Fair High School receivers coach Tad Hammel. “However, he didn’t let on about it and went on about his business.”
Sanders’ calm demeanor didn’t show what he felt inside. But after the incident, he began to question the sport he’d played since he was four years old.
“What happened to Chase isn’t uncommon; it happens more than one can count when kids and families don’t know what to look for,” said recruiting analyst Stephon Johnson, owner of Coast2Coast Athletics. “Athletes should always be cautious of offers that don’t pass through their head coach first or from someone they can’t verify. Unconventional sources of communication, like text and emails, should also raise red flags as a real offer won’t come solely through a text or email message.”
With no offers on the table and his senior season approaching, Sanders’s parents and brothers encouraged him. Sanders focused on improving his route running, explosiveness off the line and blocking technique with his trainer, Galvanis Mbu.
“I stayed silent during the process and kept working because I was hearing that I had a lot of potential,” said Sanders. “From that day forward, my mindset when I stepped on the field was to punish any man who stood in my way due to being underrated throughout my high-school years.”
As a junior, Sanders totaled 491 yards on 35 catches, an average of 14.03 yards per reception, with five touchdowns. He believed he had the skills to contribute on both sides of the ball but lacked the opportunity to fully display his talent. That came with pressure.
“I felt the pressure, but being the underdog and having noted 3-star athletes on the team with me, I had to come with it if I wanted to be in the same conversation,” said Sanders.
Hammel recognized Sanders’ potential early.
“First practice he had with us, you could tell by his movement and his fluidity for a receiver that tall,” said Hammel. “Chase is very shifty for someone that is 6-foot-5 and with the ball in his hands, he makes plays and he doesn’t go down easy. He runs good routes and is always working to better his footwork and hands. He has a great attitude and is a very good teammate.”
While other schools may not have taken the bait, Texas Southern University believed Sanders was the perfect fit and the feeling was mutual.
“TSU is the right place for me because it’s close to home. Head Coach Cris Dishman and the coaching staff seemed really genuine and I believe I’ll be able to get playing time as a freshman,” said Sanders.
While many recruits seek out large institutions, fit should always come first.
“As someone who hasn’t received a lot of looks, his competitiveness will get him on the field early in his career,” said coach Hammel. “TSU is getting a very good player but an even better young man. I’m proud to be his coach. He is a valuable asset to our program and has a bright future ahead of him.”
Although Sanders felt the pain of the prank deeply, he used that experience to fuel his drive.
“Looking back, I’ve learned that I’m a Soldier,” said Sanders. “I never gave up, I always kept God first. Athletes facing similar problems should focus on their path instead of others around them because everyone’s path to the top is different.”
About Chase Sanders:
Class: 2026
Twitter: @Chase_Sanders07
Position: Wide receiver
Height & weight: 6-feet-5, 190 pounds
Favorite artist: Lil Baby
Status: Committed to Texas Southern University
Favorite subjects: Aquatic science
Shout-outs: God, Galvanis Mbu and Cy Fair
