Sanders excelled as a pitcher for the Moss Point Tigers before playing 3 years for Jackson State University. At JSU he was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference hitter of the year and pitcher of the year. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the first round of the 1986 MLB draft and signed a contract to play professional baseball. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury ended his career as a player after only seven years. He is currently the head baseball coach for the Tougaloo College Bulldogs, a program he founded in 2002.