Brycen Sanders

Brycen Sanders

Brycen Sanders plays offensive line for the Ole Miss Rebels. This fall, he’ll also cohost a weekly podcast to reflect on the ongoing season.

Interviewed by Emily Welly |  Photos by Bruce Newman

Q: If you had to sum up last season in three words, what would those words be?

A: Dream come true. As a little kid, I always dreamed about playing college football, specifically playing in the SEC. Having the season we did with winning the Sugar Bowl and being so close to making the national championship is something I’ll never forget.

Q: You stepped up as a team leader during the playoff run. What was your focus at that time?

A: The most important thing to me was trying to win a national championship and make sure everyone else on the team had that same focus. I really tried to make sure everyone on the O-Line was focused and ready which was easy because we had some really good dudes in there. Also, other leaders on the team did a great job of stepping up in their respective position rooms. Everyone knew we were good enough to go on a run, so working toward that goal helped keep everyone focused.

Q: What are your expectations for this coming season and how can fans support you?

A: Our goal and expectation is to win the national championship. Being the last team standing at the end of the season is the only thing that matters. We need the fans to be the loudest fans in the country this year

Q: Your grandfather played at Ole Miss. Can you talk about your family connection to the university and the football program?

A: Though my grandfather did play at Ole Miss, I honestly did not have a deeply tied loyalty to Ole Miss growing up. As a kid in Nashville and Chattanooga, I actually grew up as a big Alabama fan. However, every Saturday my grandfather would have the Ole Miss game on, so anytime I was with him we would be watching Ole Miss play. A special memory was being able to take my grandfather to a game when I was being recruited my junior year of high school. It was a moment I’ll never forget! Now, my family ties to Ole Miss are firmly rooted. I am an Ole Miss graduate, my parents and grandparents come to every game, my younger sister and my girlfriend are Ole Miss students. I love this place, and I am grateful for everything the Oxford and Ole Miss community have done for me.

Q: You now have a finance degree and recently interned with a local real estate agency. That’s a lot to balance with football! Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A: Hopefully in the NFL! I’ve had a dream of playing professionally since I was a little kid, and that is something I still want to achieve. If football does not work out, I see myself doing something in the business world, hopefully living a happy life, and playing a lot of golf! Most importantly being married and having a healthy family! Big shout out to O’Keefe Graham and Oxford Real Estate Collective for my spring internship. I learned a ton in my internship that will be valuable to me later in life.

Q: What can we expect from your podcast with Chase Parham this fall?

A: Each week during the season, I will be recording The Brycen Sanders Show powered by NE SPARC hosted by Chase Parham of Rebels247 and MPW Digital. We plan to chat about football primarily by previewing upcoming games and debriefing previous games. Also, we will share some glimpses into my life off the field. I am excited to work with Chase, and I appreciate NE SPARC for being the headlining sponsor for our show!