Ja'Tavion Sanders declares for the 2024 NFL Draft
Ja’Tavion Sanders, the UT record holder for career receptions by a tight end, told ESPN’s Pete Thamel he will declare for the 2024 NFL Draft.
[Join Inside Texas and get ONE MONTH of Longhorn intel for just $1!]
Ranked as the No. 12 overall prospect in the 2021 class, Sanders became one of the most unique offensive weapons in Longhorn football history following a developmental season in 2021 that saw him mostly spend time on special teams. After standout 2022 and 2023 campaigns that saw him eclipse 600 yards in both and finish his career behind only David Thomas in receiving yards by a tight end, Sanders departs Texas as one of the program’s best ever at the position.
Sanders finished his career with 99 receptions, one more than Thomas. He leaves Texas with 1295 yards and seven touchdowns. Those seven place him sixth in school history behind Thomas, Pat Fitzgerald, Kerry Cash, Cade Brewer, and Derek Lewis.
The true beginning of his record-setting career came in 2022 when he rose to the top of the tight end depth chart upon Brewer’s graduation. Sanders caught a school-record 54 passes for 613 yards, a season yardage mark only behind William Harris’ 637 in 1984. Sanders five touchdowns were the third most in a season by a tight end behind Fitzgerald and Lewis.
Top 10
- 1
The Fighting Irish
Notre Dame beats Penn State to advance to CFP National Championship
- 2
Notre Dame odds
Irish natty line released vs. OSU and Texas
- 3Hot
Carson Beck
QB entering portal
- 4
Lee Corso
Near fall puts scare into CGD crew
- 5
Ohio State fans mistake
A brutal, costly error
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
He followed that up with a strong 2023 where he had three different games — Alabama, Baylor and Oklahoma State — with over 100 yards.
His longest reception was a 50-yarder versus Alabama, part of a 114-yard game that will stand as his career high and goes as the third most in a game by a tight end in school history behind a 149-yard effort by Jermichael Finley and a 126-yard day by Randy Peschel.
[Subscribe to the brand new Inside Texas YouTube channel!]
Sanders was ranked as the No. 12 overall prospect, the No. 1 athlete, and the No. 3 prospect in Texas in the 2021 On3 Industry Ranking.
