'08 PA ATH Cameron Saddler (Pitt Verbal)

[osugrad21]

Cameron Saddler



Athlete
Monroeville (PA) Gateway

Height: 5-foot-6
Weight: 157 lbs
Forty: 4.4 secs
Shuttle: 4.2 secs
Vertical: 28 inches
Academics: 4.28 GPA
2006 stats (rushing): 196 carries, 1,045 yards, 12 TD's
2006 stats (receiving): 17 receptions, 309 yards, 2 TD's
2006 stats (special): 7 TD's on kick and punt returns

Is a teammate and cousin of 2008 linebacker prospect Shayne Hale; and is also a teammate of 2009 prospects Dorian Bell (athlete) and Corey Brown (wide receiver).

RP Discussion Links:

[osugrad21]

Rivals $

Cameron is tired of the process and has narrowed his list to Virginia, Michigan, Syracuse and West Virginia. He may take some official visits with Shayne Hale.

The package deal seems unlikely...not dead...but unlikely. Removing some of the team links.

[wadc45]

Scout $

7/9

By Lichtenfels...confirms the final four and talks about each.

[wadc45]

Rivals $

7/15

From the Michigan site...talks about his last visit to UM and some of the UM players he knows. Saddler says he and Shayne are 100% sure they are going to the same school...either Michigan, West Virginia or Virginia.

[wadc45]

The Charleston Gazette - Sports

July 20, 2007

WVU staff gunning for recruiting family plan

By Mitch Vingle
Sports Editor

THOUGHT I'D bring West Virginia football fans a little recruiting news today.

Reason?

Cuz.

You see, the Mountaineers are recruiting two very talented cousins. And if WVU can land the services of one, they might just get both.

The pair being chased by Rich Rodriguez and company is Shayne Hale and Cameron Saddler of Gateway High in Monroeville, Pa.

Hale is considered the nation’s No. 1 linebacker by most recruiting services. When reached Thursday, he said he’s received “40-something’’ scholarship offers.

Saddler, meanwhile, said he’s at 23. A wide receiver, the rising senior is small, but explosive. And while Hale is an across-the-board five-star player, Saddler is nothing short of three.

The good news for Mountaineer fans: WVU is in serious contention for the pair’s services.

“West Virginia made my final four,’’ Saddler said. “I cut it down last week to West Virginia, Michigan, Virginia and Syracuse.’’

“I’m looking at West Virginia, Michigan, Ohio State and Virginia,’’ Hale said. “West Virginia has nice coaches. But all the schools are even right now.’’

Continued...

[wadc45]

Scout $

07/25

By Lichtenfels...Gateway's head coach states that Hale and Saddler have planned three official visits (Michigan, Virginia, and West Virginia).

[wadc45]

High School Notebook: Top football players narrowing down lists

West Virginia also is in the running for Hale's Gateway teammate, Cameron Saddler. A slotback-receiver, Saddler (5-7, 165) has trimmed his list to West Virginia, Michigan, Virginia and Syracuse.

[wadc45]

Rivals $

8/9

From the UVA site...considering taking an official visit to Akron with a teammate (Eric Livsey?). Has officials set to Michigan (Sept. 7), Virginia (Sept. 14) and West Virginia (Oct. 19). Considering a visit to Syracuse as well.

[GoRU]

Blue Chip Chat: Cameron Saddler

The skinny: Returned five kickoffs for touchdowns last season, one short of the national record. Returned one punt for a touchdown. Averaged 36.1 yards on 28 kickoff returns. Also rushed for 1,045 yards on 196 carries and scored 20 touchdowns (average length 42.1 yards). But statistics are only half the story about Saddler. He is a good-natured, jovial teenager with a great sense of humor. Sit down with him for a few minutes and it's like a comedy show.

Continued...

[wadc45]

Gateway RB rushes to prominence - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

By Tricia Lafferty
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, August 27, 2007

Gateway tailback Cameron Saddler has been waiting a long time for his growth spurt.

As he enters his senior season, though, the undersized Saddler, who also lines up as a 5-foot-7, 165-pound cornerback, punt returner and kick returner, has come to terms with the fact that he's not going to get any bigger.

"I was in ninth grade and I was 5-2," Saddler said. "I said, 'You know what? I might get a little bigger,' and then it just never happened. I was growing centimeters, centimeters and centimeters, and I said, 'You know what? I'm just giving up. I'm going to be this size forever.' "

Continued...

[wadc45]

Class AAAA: Five players to watch

CAM SADDLER -- GATEWAY RB-DB

Depending on the day and his mood, Cam Saddler will tell you he's anywhere from 5 feet 7 to 5-9.

No matter the variance, Saddler is small -- except in the eyes of the Gateway football team. To the Gators, he's Yao Ming.

"He's the lifeline of our team," said Gateway coach Terry Smith. "He wills this team. They look at him and see his size and stature and see everything he does, and I think it motivates them."

Saddler is a senior running back/defensive back/kick-returner. Despite his size, big colleges have recruited him to play slotback and return kicks. West Virginia, Michigan, Virginia and Syracuse are his finalists.

Last season, Saddler returned five kickoffs for touchdowns, one short of the national record. He averaged 36.1 yards on 20 kickoff returns, rushed for 1,045 yards, and the average length of his 20 touchdowns was 42.1 yards.

Saddler has a vibrant personality and loves to play practical jokes on his teammates.

"I guess I am what I am because of my upbringing," Saddler said. "My dad is never serious. Guys come over the house all the time after practice just to hear some of the things he says. My mom is always happy, too. Dealing with those two has made me the person I am. I do well in school, too, because I would get knocked out if I didn't."

As for this season?

"We know defenses are going to play nine in the box against us," Saddler said. "But I've got all the trust in the world in those fat hogs up front on the line. They're great."

-- By Mike White

[wadc45]

Rivals $

8/30

From the UVA site...says recruiting is quiet. Talks about working with a youth football program and about the upcoming showdown with Cardinal Mooney.

[holybuckeye33]

High School Notebook: Stock growing for McKeesport basketball star

FSN Pittsburgh's first Thursday night game of the season is tonight when Gateway plays at McKeesport. But one of the top players won't be in uniform.

Gateway standout running back Cam Saddler probably will not play for three games because of a pulled left hamstring. Saddler rushed for 124 yards on 13 carries in the first half of the season opener against Cardinal Mooney before the injury.

When reminded McKeesport is a non-conference game, Saddler said, "I don't care if we're playing the Little Sisters of the Poor, I want to play."

[osugrad21]

Rivals $
Michigan's start has definitely affected both Hale and Saddler. Cam says he will reschedule for the Ohio State game but Shayne says he isn't sure if he will even visit.

[osugrad21]

Pittsburgh Gazette

Michigan's 0-2 start also has affected its standing with Gateway running back/defensive Cam Saddler, who was supposed to make an official visit to Michigan this weekend. But after Michigan lost to Appalachian State in the season opener, Saddler pushed his visit back to late November.
One reason for Saddler's change was because he wanted to visit Michigan with Gateway teammate Shayne Hale. Both have been offered scholarships. Hale also was going to visit Michigan this weekend, but he is taking the SAT for the first time Saturday and decided to postpone the visit.
Hale, a fullback-defensive end, and Saddler also are considering Virginia and West Virginia.
"I pushed all of my official visits back, just because some of these situations are iffy," Saddler said. "Like Virginia. People aren't too happy down there. And you know people aren't too happy in Ann Arbor with Michigan. Plus, we want to make a championship run with our team, so I want to put all this recruiting stuff on the back burner."
Saddler said Michigan's 0-2 start definitely got him thinking.
"I don't know if I want to go to a school with a new coach," Saddler said.
"What if that new coach doesn't want a 5-foot-6 player like me. Wait. Let me correct that. I should've said a 5-9 player like me."