Story by Keenan Hall
Staff writer
khall16@murraystate.edu
Senior forward Brion Sanchious will be leaving the hardwood behind to join Murray State’s football team on the gridiron.
Sanchious eligibility for Division I basketball ended after the Racers were defeated in the NCAA Tournament by Florida State University on March 23, 2019. However, he does not graduate until Dec. 2019, and has decided to join the football team, according to Head Coach Mitch Stewart.
“It’s a deal that’s been in the works for a couple of weeks now between Coach (Matt) McMahon, Brion and I after he reached out,” Steward said. “We are going to introduce him slowly so you won’t see a whole lot of him [right away].”
Football is not strange to Sanchious as he was a two-sport athlete at Northeast high school in Oakland Park, Florida. He played forward and quarterback for the Hurricanes before signing to play for Head Coach Matt McMahon in his inaugural season with the Racers.
With basketball season completely wrapped up, Sanchious will be taking his talents to the football field for one last season with Murray State.
Sanchious first day on the field came at the end of the first week of spring training for Murray State. Stewart said he needed to adjust from the hardwood to the gridiron, but welcomes Sanchious to the team and is excited to see what’s ahead.
“It’s a pretty unique marriage right now, Stewart said. “I’ve seen his film from high school as a quarterback and he looks awkwardly big dropping back at quarterback. We let him run some routes at receiver and catch some balls, but he’ll be just fine.”
It is not uncommon for basketball athletes to transition to other sports such as football. College basketball players have opportunities to excel on the court and the field. Antonio Gates played basketball at Kent State University before having a hall of fame worthy career in the NFL.
Jimmy Graham also used his last year of eligibility to play football at the University of Miami in Florida. That choice led to him becoming a pro-bowler and a first-team All-pro selection once in the NFL.
Sanchious wrapped us his basketball career after falling to Florida State in the Round of 32. Sanchious averaged 3.1 ppg, and 3.3 rpg while shooting 58 percent from the floor. He also averaged 19.8 mpg in his four years as a Racer.