[1] He took drafting classes at Blue Ridge Community College for two years[2] and had been accepted at UNC Wilmington, but decided that acting was what he wanted to do instead.

[3] Sanders first became interested in acting at the age of 9 when he began taking classes at the Flat Rock Playhouse, the state theater of North Carolina.

He began with basic drama classes before moving on to an intermediate level and finally being invited to join their YouTheater company and gaining membership in its elite conservatory.

Much of the film's controversy stemmed from a pivotal scene in which a young girl, played by then 12-year-old actress Dakota Fanning, was raped by Sanders' character.

He spent the next several months auditioning before landing a part in the movie Legally Blondes[6] and the role of Ned Banks on Ghost Whisperer.

He took over the role of Ned, which was previously held by Tyler Patrick Jones, when producers decided to age the character by few years in order to explore more mature storylines.