42 days until Texas Football: Will Ja'Tavion Sanders get more than 4.2 catches per game?
Inside Texas is putting a new twist on long-time photographer Will Gallagher’s time-honored countdown to Texas football kickoff. In addition to Will’s great pictures, the Inside Texas staff will go through every player on the roster by jersey number and offer a season outlook on each, from five-star to walk-on.
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We’ll also look back at other greats to wear that day’s number, with special reverence to some of Texas’ best.
Today is 42 days until kickoff. No. 42 for the Longhorns this season will be worn by Ben Armstrong, a sophomore walk-on defensive lineman. We’ll also look at Ja’Tavion Sanders and how many catches he can haul in per game in 2023.
4.2 catches per game
Sanders caught 54 passes in 13 games last year, which comes out to an average of 4.2 per game. That trailed only Xavier Worthy (4.6) among Longhorns.
Sanders’ development over the course of his first year on campus, specifically as a blocker, allowed for him to be on the field for the majority of snaps whether the Longhorns were in 11 personnel or if another tight end joined him in 12. But he was used as a blocker often considering the presence of Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson on the team.
Can Sanders catch five passes per game? Is there enough football to go around?
“As long as there’s enough balls to win the game, there’s enough balls to keep us happy,” Jordan Whittington said at Big 12 Media Days. “If one person eats, we all eat.”
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Should Sanders catch more passes this season, he’ll likely break several UT career records for tight ends. His 2022 already put him atop the single-season reception list, and with 44 catches he’ll pass David Thomas for the No. 1 career spot among tight ends. He needs 754 yards to go from No. 10 in career yardage to No. 1, and, while unlikely, 10 touchdowns to take the top spot from Thomas.
More than 4.2 catches per game will be needed to make that happen, a number Sanders and Quinn Ewers should shoot for in 2023.
Ben Armstrong career recap
Armstrong did not see any game action last season as a freshman. He was a member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (fall 2022).
Recent player to wear No. 42: Marqez Bimage
Bimage played in 34 career games at Texas, producing 19 tackles (16 solo), two tackles for a loss, one sack, two passes defended, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He was a member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (spring 2020)
Bimage, who did not see any action in his senior season in 2020, transferred to Cal in 2021.
All-Americans to wear No. 42
Bobby Dillon, B, 1951
