| Ja'Tavion Sanders | |
| Current Team: | Carolina Panthers |
| Number: | 85 |
| Position: | Tight end |
| Birth Date: | 27 March 2003 |
| Birth Place: | Napa, California, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 4 |
| Weight Lb: | 243 |
| High School: | Billy Ryan (Denton, Texas) |
| College: | Texas (2021–2023) |
| Draftyear: | 2024 |
| Draftround: | 4 |
| Draftpick: | 101 |
| Pastteams: |
|
| Status: | Active |
| Highlights: | |
| Statseason: | 2024 |
| Statlabel1: | Receptions |
| Statlabel2: | Receiving yards |
| Statlabel3: | Touchdowns |
| Pfr: | S/SandJa01 |
Ja'Tavion Sanders (born March 27, 2003) is an American football tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns, earning all-conference honors in 2022 and 2023.
Sanders grew up in Denton, Texas and attended Billy Ryan High School, where he played basketball and was a wide receiver and defensive end on the football team.[1] He was named first team All-District 4-5A Division 1 at defensive end after recording 39 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, two forced fumbles, and three passes broken up while also catching 47 passes for 763 yards and 7 touchdowns on offense.[2] Sanders had 63 receptions for 1,161 yards and 16 touchdown receptions with three rushing touchdowns while also recording four sacks and an interception on offense and was named the co-MVP of District 5-5A Division 1.[3] [4] Sanders was rated a five-star recruit as an athlete and committed to play college football at Texas over offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M.[5]
Sanders joined the Texas Longhorns as an early enrollee in 2021 and played on both offense and defense during preseason practices.[6] The team's coaching staff ultimately decided that he would play tight end.[7] Sanders played in all 12 of the Texas's games during his freshman season, primarily on special teams.[8] Sanders entered his sophomore season as the Longhorns' primary tight end after transfer Jahleel Billingsley was suspended for the team's first six games.[9] [10] Sanders was twice-named All-Big 12 before declaring for the 2024 NFL draft following the team's loss in the 2024 Sugar Bowl.[11]
| Texas Longhorns | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | |
| 2021 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 13 | 54 | 613 | 11.4 | 5 | |
| 2023 | 14 | 45 | 682 | 15.2 | 2 | |
| Career | 39 | 99 | 1,295 | 13.1 | 7 | |
Sanders was selected 101st overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2024 NFL draft.[12]