South Carolina junior defender still picking up 1st round NFL Draft grades
South Carolina defensive tackle TJ Sanders is a redshirt junior. However, the Palmetto State native will have a decision to make about his future. Though he can return to the Gamecocks in 2025, the NFL is calling.
For most of this fall, the athletic and versatile defensive tackle has seen his name in the top 50 of most NFL Draft mocks. A strong showing this season has done nothing to dissuade analysts from those opinions. Some draft experts even have put Sanders inside their projected 1st rounds.
That trend continued this week.
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In their latest mock 1st rounds, CBS Sports’ Mike Renner, Chris Trapasso, and Ryan Wilson included Sanders among their top 32. In fact, all three analysts mocked him inside the top 30 picks.
According to Renner, Sanders should come off the board at No. 30 to the San Francisco 49ers. San Francisco has three really good defensive linemen in Nick Bosa, Maliek Collins, and Leonard Floyd, but figuring out their fourth man up front is a priority. With the ‘9ers, Sanders would team up with former Gamecock Deebo Samuel.
Trapasso has Sanders selected 27th by the Green Bay Packers. The Packers employ a 4-man front, so Sanders likely would be a full-time tackle if he goes to Green Bay. The defense in Green Bay needs major help at defensive tackle. Former Gamecocks Keisean Nixon and Kingsley Enagbare (a former Sanders teammate) already play for the Packers.
Based on Wilson’s prediction, the Minnesota Vikings could be the ones to take Sanders at No. 28. Because of the Vikings’ multiple defensive scheme, a player like Sanders could play multiple spots on the Minnesota defensive line if that’s where he ends up drafted. His USC teammate Nick Muse and Gamecock legend Stephon Gilmore are on the Vikings’ roster.
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Sanders’ high draft grades make sense. He has been productive, has an impressive physical profile, and has some positional flexibility.
Listed at 6’5″ and about 300 pounds, Sanders has posted 8.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss as part of a rotation-heavy defensive line unit in Columbia. He’s primarily been a defensive tackle (has played some at nose and some as a 3-technique) but also has experience playing defensive end in a 3-man front.
Fellow Gamecocks Nick Emmanwori and Kyle Kennard have received some 1st round grades, too. However, most projections have the All-Americans drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round, instead. Regardless, South Carolina football should have three defenders off the board relatively early.
The 2025 NFL Draft, though, is still months from now, scheduled for April 24th-26th. The 1st round will be on Thursday, the 24th. Rounds two and three will be on Friday, the 25th. The final four rounds will take place on Saturday, the 26th. All coverage will be on both the ESPN family of networks and the NFL Network.
