2024 NFL Draft Player Preview: Ja’Tavion Sanders

2024 NFL Draft Player Previews - Choose Player 2024 NFL Draft Player Previews - Home Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia Javon Bullard, CB, Georgia Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State Marvin Harrison, WR, Ohio State TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami Kalen King, CB, Penn State J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama Malachi Moore, S, Alabama Malik Nabers, WR, LSU Zion Nelson, OT, Miami Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois Rome Odunze, WR, Washington Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas T'Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas Bralen Trice, DE, Washington Dallas Turner, LB, Alabama Jared Verse, DE, Florida State Caleb Williams, QB, USC Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

Ja’Tavion Sanders, 6-4/243 Tight End Texas

Ja’Tavion Sanders 2024 Preview
By Charlie Campbell

Career Recap: Sanders came out of nowhere in 2022 to be one of the most effective tight ends in college football. In 2021, he was a backup and special teams contributor, but in 2022, Sanders was a weapon for the Longhorns, catching 54 passes for 614 yards and five touchdowns. The sophomore had huge games against West Virginia and Oklahoma that demonstrated playmaking potential.



2023 Season Outlook: After losing excellent running backs Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson to the NFL, Texas could feature more passing in 2023, which should lead to Sanders seeing more targets. He also will face plenty of vulnerable Big XII defenses. His toughest matchup could come in Week 2 against Alabama, with its secondary full of future NFL competitors.

Skill-Set Summary: NFL teams are always on the lookout for mismatch receiving weapons at the tight end position, and Sanders is the type of receiving tight end who offers that potential for the next level. Coming from a pro-style system, Sanders is a great fit to be a mismatch weapon in the middle of the field and a player who can be helpful in producing effective four-point plays in the red zone. Sanders is the type of tight end who is very much en vogue right now in the NFL.

As a receiver, Sanders can do a lot to help his offense. He is a quick route-runner with fluid athleticism to get open in the middle of the field. Sanders has the speed to get down the seam and can accelerate to find soft spots in zone coverage. Helped by his excellent body control and agility, Sanders makes difficult catches, routinely using his big body to box out defensive backs and make leaping grabs over them. Sanders shows no fear of safeties despite knowing that big hits are coming, and will still leave his feet to make acrobatic aerial catches. He is a definite mismatch weapon who will be an asset to make receptions in the end zone over defensive backs.



Sanders flashes some run-after-the-catch ability, but it would be good to see more of that in 2023. It would help him if he got more consistent play out of his quarterbacks that get the ball to him quicker. As a pro, Sanders should be an excellent safety outlet for his quarterback to throw the ball up to him when they get in trouble.

Sanders is not a big tight end, so he could face limitations as a blocker in the NFL. Improving his blocking enough to become capable of producing draws will be a point of emphasis for his pro coaching staff.

If Sanders stays consistent and builds on his 2022 performance, he could end up with NFL teams giving him the grade of a three-down starter heading into the 2024 NFL Draft.



2024 NFL Draft Expectations: Entering the 2023 season, Sanders looks like he could be a prospect for the top half of the 2024 NFL Draft.

2024 NFL Draft Player Previews - Choose Player 2024 NFL Draft Player Previews - Home Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama Brock Bowers, TE, Georgia Javon Bullard, CB, Georgia Caelen Carson, CB, Wake Forest Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State Olumuyiwa Fashanu, OT, Penn State Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State Marvin Harrison, WR, Ohio State TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami Kalen King, CB, Penn State J.C. Latham, OT, Alabama Drake Maye, QB, North Carolina Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama Malachi Moore, S, Alabama Malik Nabers, WR, LSU Zion Nelson, OT, Miami Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois Rome Odunze, WR, Washington Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson Ja'Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas T'Vondre Sweat, DT, Texas Bralen Trice, DE, Washington Dallas Turner, LB, Alabama Jared Verse, DE, Florida State Caleb Williams, QB, USC Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

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