There are a NFL scouts who come to WVU to watch Robert Sands and to talk to his coaches because, in a way, the reports seem a little too good to be true.

Is Sands, for example, 6-foot-5? His height wouldn’t be the first to be embellished, especially in the defensive backfield.

Can he really play fast and fluid at that height? The last thing a team wants is a statuesque safety in the back of the defense.

Oh, and is he as sharp, teachable and aware as everyone is told? The learning rate in the NFL is very rapid and a safety is charged with knowing a whole lot more than his job.

So there are a lot of variables to go with a lot of attention. One day during preseason camp, when it became obvious Sands could leave after this season, it was asked among a few reporters, “Would Sands be so popular if he was four inches shorter?” Really, if he was the same player and person, but 6-1, would he have all this hype around him?

The question had to be asked. Hardly surprising, everyone thought Sands would still be a special player. Sands thought size was a little overrated. 

Sands can’t hypothesize on being shorter because he’s always been taller. He can relate to being 6-1, but only because he was that size as a high school freshman, when he was already taller than everyone at his position.

And height as it relates to the composition of a football player doesn’t much matter to Sands.

“A football player is a football player, no matter how tall or how short he is,” Sands said. “If he can make plays, he can make plays. If you can’t, you won’t. I don’t think it matters as much as heart and determination and will power. You just have to want to make plays.”

As an example, Sands highlights senior safety Sidney Glover, who’s regarded as one of the team’s toughest players, but who plays at 5-11 and 205 pounds.

“Sid’s not 6-5, but Sid makes plays,” Sands said. “He returned an interception for a touchdown. I didn’t do that.”