By Tyler Devine

IOWA CITY, Iowa – It’s rare for the Iowa football team to recruit in Arizona.

Three-star 2021 running back Eli Sanders became an exception to that Tuesday after receiving a scholarship offer from Iowa.

“We just built a bond over the last month,” Sanders said. “I was just happy and very excited when it happened. I was speechless.

“The distance doesn’t really bother me. It’s just where the best fit for my family and I will be and where I see myself playing and living for the next four to five years.”

Sanders, a native of Chandler, Ariz., is currently verbally committed to Boise State, but said that he is still considering any school that extends him an offer.

Coaches and recruits are not allowed to have in-person contact because of NCAA restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the 6-foot, 190-pound Sanders said he has a virtual visit with Iowa coaches planned for Sunday.

Sanders also said he and his parents plan to make their own visit to Iowa City when his high school season is complete.

“I’m really looking forward to this virtual visit,” Sanders said. “To look around the campus and see the facilities and the coaching staff and the academics down there. They play in a great conference and have a great program. I’m just looking to get more educated on that.”

Sanders said he has built a good relationship with Iowa running backs coach Derrick Foster.

“He’s a great guy,” Sanders said. “He’s a mentor on and off the field. We have real life conversations about our family and what we want after football, what do we want to study, stuff like that.”

Sanders also holds Power Five offers from Arizona, Arizona State and Iowa State and said that he will be signing his national letter of intent on the traditional February signing day.