Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LONG | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 49-3vs Alcorn State | 6 | 94 | 15.7 | 1 | 38 | Season-high 94 yds |
| Wk 2 | L 8-43@ Auburn | 3 | 58 | 19.3 | 0 | 41 | |
| Total | 9 | 152 | 17.5 | 1 | 41 |
#1
Mario Sanders II
Senior wide receiver for Southern Miss. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
5′10″ · 191 lb · Minneapolis, MN
Transferred Illinois → Southern Miss for 2026
The numbers
152
receiving yards · 2026
9 catches · 1 TD · 16.9 per catch
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 6 rec, 94 yds, 1 TD, vs Alcorn State
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 wide receiver for Southern Miss. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Illinois in 2024.
- Transferred from Illinois to Southern Miss in 2026.
Mario Sanders II
Mario Sanders II has played for two head coaches across two seasons and two programs. One game to point at: 94 rec yds, 6 receptions against Alcorn State — Week 1, 2026.
152 REC YDS · 9 REC · 1 REC TD
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
2024
- Signed with Illinois3-star out of Iowa Central C.C.
2026
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
- Entered the portal
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
2 teams
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2025–2026
2 coaches2025
Southern Miss
Coaching transition mid-career: Charles Huff → Blake Anderson. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
Where He Ended Up · Transfer
Transferred to Southern Miss
2025Illinois
2026Southern Miss
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2025Illinois9-4HC: Bret Bielema · Run-leaning
2026Southern Miss1-1HC: Blake Anderson · Run-leaning, fast tempo
Where this profile ranks vs the WR cohort
Box-score percentiles
Elite: yards / catch (82nd percentile). Concern: receptions (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (5)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 4.5 REC/g, 76.0 YDS/g, 17.5 YPR, 0.5 TD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Blake Anderson
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Southern Miss | 9 | 152 | 16.9 | 1 | -- |
| 2025 | Illinois | 2 | 32 | 16.0 | 0 | -- |
| Career | 11 | 184 | 16.7 | 1 | -- |
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Southern Miss | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Illinois | -- | -- | 14 | -- | -- |
| Career | -- | -- | 14 | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 49–3
vs Alcorn State
6 rec · 94 yds · 1 TD
Dominant 46-point win at home against Alcorn State.
With M. Johnson — 13 rush yds (1 car) · E. Hampton — 180 yds · 1 TD · 1 INT · 15 rush yds (3 car)
Signature plays
Signature plays · top plays by |EPA|
The plays that mattered most
- Week 1 · Alcorn State · 2&5 · Q2 · EPA +3.26(11:02) No Huddle-Shotgun #5 E.Hampton pass complete short middle to #1 M.Sanders caught at ASU29, for 38 yards to the ASU00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 10:55, 1ST DOWN #40 C.Wilbanks kick attempt good (H: #36 D.Zimmer, LS: #46 L.Beard)
- Week 2 · Auburn · 3&2 · Q2 · EPA +2.57(03:34) Shotgun #5 E.Hampton pass complete short left to #1 M.Sanders caught at USM47, for 41 yards to the Auburn11 (#4 R.Pleasant), out of bounds, 1ST DOWN
- Week 2 · Auburn · 2&10 · Q1 · EPA +2.23(07:53) Shotgun #5 E.Hampton pass complete short middle to #1 M.Sanders caught at Auburn48, for 13 yards to the Auburn45 (#1 C.Anthony) PENALTY USM Personal Foul (#84 B.Peters) 15 yards from Auburn45 to USM40
- Week 1 · Alcorn State · 3&6 · Q2 · EPA +2.13(13:30) No Huddle-Shotgun #5 E.Hampton pass complete short left to #1 M.Sanders caught at USM34, for 8 yards to the USM43, out of bounds at USM43, 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Alcorn State · 1&10 · Q3 · EPA +1.68(14:52) Shotgun #5 E.Hampton pass complete short right to #1 M.Sanders caught at USM27, for 18 yards to the USM48 (#1 T.Jasper; #45 D.Crowell), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · Alcorn State · 1&10 · Q1 · EPA +1.25(05:52) Shotgun #5 E.Hampton pass complete short left to #1 M.Sanders caught at USM34, for 9 yards to the USM34 (#25 E.Ruffin)
- Week 1 · Alcorn State · 1&10 · Q1 · EPA +1.10(13:37) Shotgun #5 E.Hampton pass complete short right to #1 M.Sanders caught at USM20, for 17 yards to the USM32 (#8 J.Davis), out of bounds, 1ST DOWN. #15 E.Thomas Jr. injured on the play
- Week 2 · Auburn · 1&10 · Q1 · EPA -0.11(03:43) Shotgun #5 E.Hampton pass complete short right to #1 M.Sanders caught at USM28, for 4 yards to the USM29 (#5 E.Winters), out of bounds
- Week 1 · Alcorn State · 1&10 · Q3 · EPA -0.09(14:01) No Huddle-Shotgun #5 E.Hampton pass complete short left to #1 M.Sanders caught at ASU37, for 4 yards to the ASU36 (#7 B.Barnes)
Game log
The receiver room · Southern Miss
- #9Elijah Metcalf683 receiving yards · 2025
- #7Carl Chester550 receiving yards · 2025
- #6Micah Davis429 receiving yards · 2025
- #8Bralon Brown353 receiving yards · 2025
- #1Mario Sanders II32 receiving yards · 2025
17 more on the roster · Southern Miss team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology