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How rodeo helped Emmanuel Sanders become an NFL star

Before he won a Super Bowl ring, Emmanuel Sanders was a kid who idolized his cowboy uncles.

Emmanuel Sanders holds every career receiving record at SMU. He was the leading pass catcher in Denver’s Super Bowl 50 victory, and Sanders is one of eight active players with at least 1000 receiving yards in each of the last three seasons. His speed and willingness to go after any ball make him a big-play threat at all times on the field. But what if his real calling is ... rodeo cowboy?

Ok, that’s a little much. Rodeo was a big part of his youth in Bellville, Texas, however, as it showed Sanders how far people would go for the love of competition. That love propelled him through youth football, his career as a high school standout, and four successful years with the Mustangs all the way to the NFL. This is the story of that journey, and the people along it who helped Sanders become the incredible athlete he is today.