Robert Sands Scouting Report

As a true freshman, Robert Sands quickly developed into a big time free safety at West Virginia. He ended up starting nine games and tallied 33 tackles. However, Sands saved his biggest moment for the biggest game of the year. Sands forced a fumble against North Carolina in the Meineke Car Care Bowl which led to the game winning touchdown. That success at the end of the 2008 campaign really catapulted him into the limelight as a sophomore. Once again Sands only started nine games, but he started making more plays and bigger plays. He ended up ranking fifth on the team with 65 tackles and picked off an impressive five passes, which tied for the Big East lead.

Sands is a big hitter and, at 6-5 and 221 pounds, he is a big free safety who can get his body behind those hits. Sands is once again having a solid season and through seven games is fifth on the team in tackles and has also recorded one interception and one forced fumble. Even if West Virginia stumbles to the finish, Sands will grade out very well in postseason workouts and at the NFL combine.

Yet, he is just a junior and Sands may benefit from another year at WVU. Right now he is probably a second round draft pick and has some room to increase his stock. Sands has been at least a part-time starter for three years, so he has plenty of experience and that could make him a potential early entrant since NFL teams have plenty of tape on him.

2/10 Update: Sands did opt to forgo his senior season at West Virginia and enter the NFL Draft. At the time, he was widely considered one of the top safeties in this class. After another year of earning All-Big East accolades, he has proven everything he needs to prove at the collegiate level. However, Sands' stock seems to be slipping at the moment. Sands has the skills necessary to be a second round draft pick, but he will have to prove it at the NFL Combine or he may find himself slipping further down most boards.