Bison Football Feature: Chuck Sanders

Charles "Chuck" Sanders was named after his father, who spent two seasons as a running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But, while Sanders shares his father's name and work ethic, he ended up playing a completely different position.

"I did not get those running back genes at all," said Sanders, a 6-foot, 310-pound offensive lineman, with a laugh. "But I definitely got his work ethic. He always told me he never took a day off, and I try to grind all the time. I wouldn't be where I am today if I didn't do that."

Sanders is a critical member of Bucknell's offensive line rotation, appearing at center and both guard spots. Over the course of his career, he has earned 11 starts, five at left guard, three at center and three at right guard.

"I've always been proud of that," Sanders said of his versatility. "Having experience playing three positions helps me be a better leader on the line. I can help out so many different guys, whether they have a center question or a guard question. I can also go in at any moment."

Asked which position he enjoys playing the most, Sanders said that he couldn't possibly choose.

"I love playing guard, and I love playing center," Sanders said. He paused and then added with a chuckle, "If I was a little taller, I would love playing tackle as well."

Sanders said that he's been successful playing three different positions because he spends so much time in his playbook.

"I'm always in my playbook," Sanders said. "You may think playing offensive line is just about being physical and hitting people, but the mental aspect is so important. I'm always taking mental reps. When I'm not in, I'm always watching what the center and guards are doing. I'm really passionate about the mental side of the game, and that's helped me be ready to step in when I'm needed."

Because of his passion for the mental side of the game, Sanders has enjoyed working with assistant coach Vinny Giacalone.

"I would say Coach Giacalone is a mastermind," Sanders said. "He's teaching us so many things, and it allows us to do a lot more. It makes me excited. I always try to ask the 'why' question instead of just the 'how' question. When you know what the defense is going to do, it makes you a much better offensive lineman."

The Bison offensive line is on the young side this season, with five different players earning their first career start. Sanders said that the unit has a bright future and that he's proud to have played a role in setting it up for success.

"These guys are such fast learners," Sanders said. "I like to help by passing down little tips and tricks I've learned over the years. Coach Giacalone is also making us much better linemen. Our offensive line is going to be great, and it's definitely bittersweet that I'm graduating this year."

Sanders said that the offensive line's growth was on display at Lafayette, a game in which sophomore running back Jared Cooper ran for a career-high 103 yards on 15 carries.

"We get all our pride and glory when our running backs, quarterbacks and wide receivers do great," Sanders said. "Any time they score a touchdown, it feels like we scored a touchdown. Their stats are our stats so Coop going over 100 yards for the first time was a great moment for the room. We definitely wanted to come out of there with a win, but the fact we helped Coop get over 100 is a sign we're moving in the right direction."

With Sanders's time at Bucknell winding down, he has begun to weigh his future options. An Accounting & Financial Management major, he's considering going into wealth management.

"My dad worked in banking when his football career ended so I know a bit about that industry," Sanders said. "I have a lot of athletes around me who could go to the NFL or are already doing great things in the NFL like Julién [Davenport] and Ab [Abdullah Anderson]. I'm thinking about going into financial advising, possibly managing athletes' wealth."

But Sanders is equally passionate about food. Following his time in the banking industry, his father opened Savoy, a restaurant in Pittsburgh. Sanders could see himself working alongside his father at Savoy.

"Linemen always love food, and I'm no exception," Sanders said, with a laugh. "I'm actually a pretty good chef. The best thing I ever made was for my mom, a steak with crab meat on top and a twice-baked potato on Mother's Day. I love cooking, and I love the restaurant scene. It would be cool to help my dad expand Savoy."

No matter which path Sanders ends up taking, he's confident that his time as a football player will help him find success.

"Football is a life teacher," Sanders said. "I've learned how to manage my time, and I've learned how important it is to always give 100 percent. I'm a bit sad that my time as a football player is coming to an end, but I'll always carry the lessons I learned from the game with me."

Bison Bits
1) Favorite Sports Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
2) Dream Vacation Spot: A cruise on the ocean
3) Hidden Talent: I can cook
4) Biggest Fear: Bees
5) Three People You Would Invite to Dinner: Jesus, my grandma, Malcolm X

This feature story originally ran in the program for Bucknell's game against Lehigh on Nov. 9, 2019. It was updated with current statistics to run on BucknellBison.com.

Players Mentioned

Jared Cooper

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