Fernando Sanchez III

Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw

Position:
Linebacker
Height:
6-3
Weight:
250
Class:
Redshirt Senior
Hometown:
Loganville, Ga.
High School:
Grayson H..S.
Major:
Community Development/Community Services
Twitter:
@huncho_f

CAREER

In five-year career, played in 43 career games … made 67 career tackles (28 solo), 9.0 tackles for loss for 23 yards, three sacks, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery with one blocked kick … four-year letterman.

2025

As a senior linebacker/defensive lineman, saw action in six games … listed as a starter and backup at linebacker … earned preseason Fourth Team All-MAC honors by Phil Steele Magazine … Totaled 19 tackles (five solo), 1.0 sacks for four yards, 1.0 tackles for loss, a fumble return for 10 yards, and a quarterback hurry … made at least one tackle in all six games played … totaled a career-high seven tackles (seven solo) at Akron (10/14) … Finished with two tackles vs. Eastern Michigan (9/27) … made two tackles vs. Wagner (9/20) … totaled three tackles at Michigan (9/13) … registered 1.0 tackles for loss for four yards, two total tackles, with a quarterback hurry at Pittsburgh (9/6) … recovered and returned a key fumble 10 yards and made three tackles in the season opener at San Jose State (8/29).

2024

As a senior linebacker, saw action in all 12 games with four starts at linebacker … also saw significant action on special teams … listed as the starter or backup linebacker on the depth chart … concluded the season with 27 total tackles (14 solo) with 5.5 tackles for loss for 14 yards, 1.5 sacks for seven yards, and a pass breakup … registered at least one tackle in 10 of 12 games … finished with a career-high five tackles (four solo) with a career-high 2.0 tackles for loss for two yards in season finale at Northern Illinois (11/30) … made two tackles (one solo) with 0.5 tackle for loss and one pass breakup vs. Western Michigan (11/19) … finished with four tackles at Toledo (11/12) … registered two tackles with 0.5 tackles for loss vs. Ohio (10/12) … made three solo tackles vs. Ball State (9/21) … made three solo tackles with 1.0 sack/tackle for loss at Illinois (9/14) … registered 2.0 tackles with 1.0 tackle for loss at Florida International (9/7) … made three tackles with 0.5 sacks/tackle for loss in season opener vs. Central Connecticut State (8/29).

2023

As a junior linebacker, saw action in eight games … listed as a starter or backup linebacker on the depth chart … played in the season’s first eight games, but missed the last four…concluded season with 10 tackles (four solo), 1.5 tackles for loss for two yards, and 0.5 sack for one yard … made a career-high five tackles (two solo) at Ball State (10/21) … made one tackle vs. Akron (10/14) … registered three tackles with 0.5 sacks at Buffalo (10/7) … finished with one tackle and one tackle for loss for one yard in season opener at Michigan State (9/1).

2022

As a sophomore linebacker, played in four games … saw action in 115 plays on special teams and on defense … finished the year with three tackles (two solo), one tackle for loss and a pass breakup … made two solo tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss for three yards and broke up a pass vs. Bucknell (9/17) … made one tackle in season opener at Oklahoma State (9/1).

2021

As a true freshman linebacker, appeared in all 13 games … credited with eight tackles … made two stops and forced a fumble in the Sun Bowl vs. Washington State (12/31) … forced fumble came on a kickoff return and led to CMU’s first touchdown.

HIGH SCHOOL

A 2021 graduate of Grayson High School in Loganville, Ga., where he played three years of varsity football for Head Coach Adam Carter … saw action as a wide receiver and safety … totaled 67 Tackles, eight sacks, 19.0 tackles-for-loss and one forced fumble in 2020 … also played baseball.

PERSONAL

Born Fernando Sanchez III on November 30, 2002 … son of Fernando Sanchez Jr. and Donna Sanchez … selected Central Michigan over offers from Akron, Alabama State, Arizona State, Austin Peay, Fordham, Jacksonville State, Maryland, and Liberty … majors in Community Development with Concentration in Community Services.