Defensive back James Sanders as he participates in a ball-handling drill during practice yesterday in Foxboro.

The Providence Journal / Bob Breidenbach

FOXBORO — Growing up as the oldest of six children, James Sanders was much more than a big brother to his siblings — he was also something of a father figure, the person his mother depended on to help keep things running smoothly.

Sanders, the Patriots’ young, emerging safety, began taking care of his brothers and sisters at around 11 years old — when his youngest brother was still a baby and while his mother, a single parent, worked long hours as a nurse.

His duties ranged from from changing diapers to cooking dinner, getting his siblings ready for school and making sure they finished their homework.

Sanders didn’t think it was a big deal at the time.

“I just knew that my mother needed me to do something, and I had to take control,” the 23-year old California native said yesterday. “At the time, I didn’t know how important it was. I just knew that mom needed help to get something done, and I took control.”

In time, he fit football in with his household duties, leaving Monache High School in his native Porterville and heading 75 miles north to play for Fresno State in the Western Athletic Conference.

Sanders enjoyed two All-WAC seasons before deciding to enter the NFL Draft after his junior season. Bulldogs coach Pat Hill, who spent four year on Bill Belichick’s staff in Cleveland, called Sanders the best defensive back the school has ever had. That’s high praise given that all four members of the Fresno State backfield in Sanders’ final year are in the NFL. Sanders’ close friend, Richard Marshall, is a corner for Carolina who played all 16 games last season. Safety Tyrone Culver plays for the Packers, and corner Marcus McCauley was drafted in the fourth round by the Vikings this year.

Belichick took Hill’s star student in the fourth round of the 2005 draft, and Sanders began contributing right away in New England, seeing time in 12 games (including the postseason).

Last year, he played in all 16 regular-season games, starting five, racking up 45 tackles (30 solo), a sack, an interception and five special-teams tackles.

Sanders started all three playoff contests because of the injury to Rodney Harrison and made 17 tackles. He also had a key third-down sack of San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers in the third quarter of the Pats’ divisional playoff upset.

Both Harrison and Eugene Wilson are healthy, and rookie Brandon Meriweather is seeing a lot of time as a slot defender, seemingly pushing Sanders to the side. But the man who makes the decision on playing time has taken notice of the safety’s work ethic. “He’s always been a physical kid and a strong tackler, but I think that the other parts of his game have improved, and improved tremendously last year just over the course of last season from where he was earlier in the year to where he was at the end of the year,” Belichick said. “I think he’s probably one of the most dependable players that we have. He’s consistent. You get a very solid performance from him day in and day out, and that’s a real strength.”

Sanders said playing as much as he did last year gave him a great deal of confidence heading into this season. He hopes one of the results of his hard work is that he’ll feel comfortable enough on the field so that he can have fun while he’s playing.

Like many New England players, Sanders has sought advice from Harrison, but the respected veteran says it’s not all a one-way street.

“I just feel like any knowledge that I have, I just want to pass on to him and be there for him in any way I can and help him out,” Harrison said. “And likewise, he helps me out. There’s things that he sees that I may not see, and sometimes I may come to him and ask him about a different technique and he’ll help me, too.”

But, according to Sanders, Harrison is just being modest.

“I might help him a little bit, but for every one thing I help him with, he probably gives me over 100. He’s a great teacher and he’s one of the best to learn from,” Sanders said.

Said Harrison: “He’s one of the hardest-working guys around, and that’s in the classroom as well as on the field. He’s a guy you don’t have to really say much … more than once because he listens. He’s just a good, open-minded young man and you’re glad to see him prosper because he works so hard.”

smanza@projo.com