Sanborn gets chance from hometown team
TAMPA — When Garrison Sanborn was a student at Jesuit High School, he would drive past Raymond James Stadium on his way to school every day. This fall, the 31-year-old will be back in Tampa, having signed with the Bucs as a longsnapper after eight years with the Buffalo Bills.
“I always wanted to play there. I think it’s a dream come true for all players to play with their hometown team that they grew up watching,” said Sanborn, who didn’t miss a game in his eight seasons in Buffalo, but was released. “I’m obviously very happy for the opportunity.”
The Bucs have had Andrew DePaola as their long-snapper for the last three years, but he tore his ACL in the 2016 season finale, and he’s unlikely to be fully recovered from surgery in time for the start of the 2017 season. The Bucs opted not to tender him as a restricted free agent, so while they could bring him back later, Sanborn and fellow Florida State grad Dax Dellenbach are the only snappers on the current roster.
“I’m confident in my abilities — God blessed me with the ability to snap and I feel like if I can get in front of people, I can show them what I’m capable of,” he said. “To be able to do that at home, I look forward to winning over the coaches and turning this one-year contract into a much longer term.”
Sanborn lives with his family in Jacksonville in the offseason, but his parents still live in Tampa and he’s in the process of moving back as well. He enjoyed his time in Buffalo, becoming one of the Bills’ longest-tenured players, and while he was surprised by the decision to release him, he understands the business side of the NFL.
“It definitely was a surprise,” he said. “I get a phone call from Doug Whaley, the GM, and he started the conversation saying it was an awkward phone call to make because of our history together and friendship . ... I’m grateful Buffalo gave me an opportunity to reach my dreams, and now Tampa’s giving me an opportunity to make those dreams possibly greater.”
That could include Sanborn’s first trip to the playoffs — he played in 128 games in Buffalo, but only one team with a winning record, going 9-7 in 2015. He’s excited to play for Dirk Koetter now and add to a large number of FSU players in Tampa.
“We’ve got several Florida State guys in that locker room — I watched Jameis (Winston) at Florida State and he’s kept the same attitude toward winning when he got to Tampa. I’m looking forward to playing with him and (Roberto) Aguayo and those guys,” he said.