Ethenic Sands

CAREER: Reliable receiver who was one of the team’s primary punt return men…had a “team first” attitude throughout his career, helping the team by switching positions twice…agile player who was a quarterback in an option offense in high school.

2002 (SENIOR): The team’s third receiver in multiple-receiver sets…caught 21 passes for 312 yards (14.8 ypc) and four touchdowns…ranked fifth on the team in catches…returned 17 punts for 169 yards (9.9 ypr)…played against Virginia Tech, but did not make a catch…had two catches for 35 yards, including a 23-yard touchdown catch, at Syracuse…did not catch a pass against Pittsburgh…caught two passes for 16 yards in the win at Tennessee…had one punt return for four yards against the Volunteers…had a catch for five yards at Rutgers…lost 10 yards on his only punt return against Rutgers…had two punt returns for 12 total yards against West Virginia…made two receptions for 51 yards against Florida State…had a punt return for no gain against the Seminoles…caught a career-high six passes for 62 yards and a touchdown against Connecticut…named an Offensive MVP by the coaching staff for his performance against Connecticut…returned one punt for no yards against the Huskies…had two punt returns for four yards against Boston College…had two catches for 64 yards, including a 42-yarder, against Temple…averaged 19 yards on three punt returns against the Owls…had two catches for 33 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown pass, against Florida…returned four punts for 48 yards against the Gators…had a 12-yard catch for a score against Florida A&M in the season opener…averaged 54 yards on two punt returns against the Rattlers.

2001 (JUNIOR): Made a successful return to receiver after playing the 2000 season as the backup quarterback…quickly stood out among the receivers in spring practice by exhibiting good hands and the ability to catch in a crowd of defenders…had at least one catch in every game of the regular season…started two games at flanker (Boston College and Washington)…was third on the team in receptions with 26 catches for 385 yards, averaging 14.8 yards per catch, and scored one receiving touchdown…had a season-best four receptions twice, against Rutgers (75 yards) and Boston College (52 yards)…was a consistently reliable receiver who made several key catches on third down plays in Miami’s close wins at Boston College and Virginia Tech…scored a touchdown on his only catch, a 27-yarder, in the season opener at Penn State (Miami’s first touchdown of the season)…had four receptions for 75 yards against Rutgers, including a 30-yard catch…caught three passes for 35 yards at Pittsburgh…had a season-long 37-yard catch against Troy State, grabbing two passes for 48 yards in the game…gained 34 yards on his only catch of the day in Miami’s win at Florida State that snapped FSU’s 10-year home field unbeaten streak…nabbed three passes for 33 yards in the win over West Virginia…matched his season-high with four catches for 52 yards against Boston College…had a pair of crucial catches on third down plays late in the game at BC to keep a time-consuming drive alive…had two catches for 23 yards against Syracuse and gained 23 more yards on a rushing play on a reverse…caught two passes for 21 yards, including a 19-yarder, in the rout of Washington…made three catches for 32 yards in the season-ending win at Virginia Tech.

2000 (SOPHOMORE): Played in seven games as the primary backup to starting quarterback Ken Dorsey…completed 9-of-13 passes for 174 yards and one touchdown…averaged 19.3 yards per completion and 13.4 yards per attempt…had a season-long pass completion of 41 yards to Robert Williams against Rutgers…completed his first collegiate touchdown pass on a 32-yard connection with freshman receiver Andre Johnson in the season opener vs. McNeese State… completed 4-of-6 passes for 78 yards and rushed for 14 yards against McNeese State…also saw action against West Virginia, Rutgers, Temple, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Boston College…completed 3-of-4 passes for 81 yards against Rutgers.

1999 (FRESHMAN): Appeared in 11 of 13 games, including the Gator Bowl…had four catches for 38 yards and one touchdown during the regular season…averaged 9.5 yards per catch…his first career catch against Florida A&M was his lone touchdown reception…also saw action on punt returns.

1998 (REDSHIRT): One of 15 members of the 1998 recruiting class to redshirt.

HIGH SCHOOL: Carol City…starting quarterback for the two-time defending Class 6A state champion Carol City Chiefs…also started for the champion Dade County squad in the first annual Nike/Dade-Broward All-Star football game…as a starter, guided the Chiefs to a 29-1 overall record in two seasons, including back-to-back 7-0 marks in district play…earned USA Today Honorable Mention All-American…Tampa Tribune’s No. 22 prospect in the state…named to the Florida Class 6A All-State first-team…named-first team All-Dade County by the Miami Herald…Orlando Sentinel All-Southern football team…team captain as a senior…played in the Florida Shrine Bowl throwing a 76-yard touchdown pass…also a highly productive guard on the Carol City basketball team…timed at 4.5 in the 40…coached by Walt Frazier.

PERSONAL: Born 8/2/80…liberal arts major…full name is Ethenic Jamaal Sands…cousin, Derrick Smith, played for the Sacramento Kings…was a high school teammate of former UM All-American Santana Moss…chose Miami over Florida State, Ohio State and Temple…son of Whitfield and Vickie Sands.

SANDS’ CAREER RECEIVING STATISTICS