AAMU alum Marlon Sanders, Jr. was on the sidelines when the Philadelphia Eagles beat the San Francisco 49ers Sunday in the NFC Championship and advanced to the Super Bowl.
Sanders is a video assistant with the Eagles. “This isn’t the glamour- ous, flashy video you see on TV. There is no audio. It’s “Teach Tape,” what the players, coaches and scouts watch for grading everything from coaching to effort.”
Sanders graduated from AAMU with a communications degree in 2019. He played football and hoped to walk on with the Bulldogs. “My mom said no, to concentrate on school. But I was missing it. So, when the football team tweeted
they were looking for videographers, I reached out. I remember it was 10:06 p.m. My best friend and roommate, Da’Vonta Ealy, and I, ended up shooting video for the Bulldogs.
Sanders says it was tough finding a job after graduation during a pandemic. “Da’Vonta had taken an internship with the Washington Redskins in 2018. He called me back then and said, ‘You can do this!’ I ended up back home in Mobile and interned at the University of South Alabama. I got to work the
Senior Bowl in Mobile and helped the Panthers and Dolphins film all week. After that, I started reach- ing out to the NFL. When I called Patrick Dolan, vice president of football technology for the Eagles, he said, ‘I’m glad you called. I was just about to call you.’ And that was that.”
Sanders says he and his family are preparing for Super Bowl LVII. “My Mom and Godmother were at the game yesterday and are checking flights to Arizona. I want to add to my fellow Bulldogs, once you find what you’re passionate about, don’t let the journey deter you. Dedicate yourself to getting better at your craft and the hard work will always pay off. Start Here, Go Anywhere!”
