UMass’ Sanford heads for home

Barely a teenager in Central Virginia, Joseph Sanford would be summoned from bed long before the sun would rise.

When his attempts to pretend like he was sleeping failed, Sanford stumbled into his basement for a workout.

That odd work ethic, as painful and comical as it feels now to Sanford, translated into a stellar career as a quarterback at Monticello High School that included 4,310 yards of passing.

That hard work will come full circle today as Sanford, now at Massachusetts, plays what will likely be his final collegiate game in the state of Virginia. The Minutemen (4-2), No. 16 in the FCS poll, play today at No. 1 Richmond at 3:30 p.m.

Where Sanford will play may shock many of the local football fans that enjoyed his work at quarterback as a prep standout.

After failing to win the job as the starting quarterback at UMass, Sanford asked the staff to move to wide receiver.

Considered a possession receiver, Sanford finished third on the team last year in receiving and enters today’s game with 160 yards and nine receptions on the season.

The conversion was not as tough as one might imagine thanks to work ethic that his dad, Mark, instilled in Sanford.

“He has embedded that mentality in my brother and sister since we were real little,” Sanford said. “He put it in early that working hard is essential in being successful.”

Mark, now the head coach at William Monroe High, praised the transition that his son made after transferring from Virginia to UMass.

“He’s done really well. Obviously, the switch from quarterback was a big decision for him,” Mark said. “He asked the staff to do that because the kid ahead of him was the conference player of the year and only a year ahead of him in school. He knew the odds of him getting on the field at quarterback were pretty slim until at least his senior year.

“He asked to move and he has embraced the challenge. He has done a great job and his parents are really proud of him. He has really worked hard.”

Sanford said his work as quarterback helped in the move to wideout.

“It wasn’t that tough because I feel like when you move to receiver, you know the reads from playing quarterback,” said Sanford. “You are on the same page with the guy because you know what coverage it is and where the ball should go.”

It was humbling for Sanford, however, as he had to give up the position that he had played his entire life.

“It was tough because when I came up there the quarterback in front of me had been starting for two years,” he said. “I was playing catch up the whole time. They gave me ample opportunity and reps with the first team, but it was coming too fast.

“I was trying to learn the offense way too fast and he had been in the system for two years. It was the best decision in the end and I have had a blast here. I just hope we can get a win in Virginia [today].”