What Vanderdoes learned at Placer paying off with Raiders

basketball in Germany, having arrived in Auburn as an 8-year-old from that country speaking not a word of English. Peat once squat-lifted 725 pounds.

Where did Vanderdoes get his athletic genes? That’s a start.

“Bernhard’s in his 60s, and he’s not built like Eddie, longer and leaner, but he can still dunk a ball, and he could show up at Placer right now and beat any kid on campus in basketball,” said Montoya, the Placer football coach. “Good genes.”

Peat said Auburn is pulling for his grandson.

“It’s almost too perfect where Eddie is and what’s happened,” he said. “And it’s not just his family that’s with him. We’re all a part of it, his pee-wee coaches, high school coaches and teaches, the whole community.”

Vanderdoes hit 92 mph with his fastball as a pitcher at Placer, once striking out 16 in six innings, and he would blast home runs into the trees that lined the outfield fence at James Field in Auburn. His kid sister Baylee, is playing basketball on scholarship at San Diego State. Vanderdoes doesn’t deny that Baylee may be the best athlete of the family.

Vanderdoes said he has not treated himself to any luxuries with his new NFL earnings. He still drives a 2014 Honda Accord, and he zipped to Auburn to visit family and coaches before camp started. He credits his coaches, grandparents and parents — Behia and Eddie — for his humility.

“Everybody played a big part in my success,” he said. “Placer was my building foundation. Mom and Dad were my foundation for being a better man, doing the right thing, being disciplined. I look back and, damn, it seems so long ago but not so long ago. I’m here, and now I need to re-establish myself again.”