J. Sanders

[old65horn]

Sanders. Was our top ranked recruit in 2021.

He did not play as I Recall. He is listed as a tight end.

Is he still on the team and why did he not play

 

[ProdigalHorn]

He played in some games, not sure it was ever at TE. I know he was in on special teams.

 

[SabreHorn]

Old 65,

My question is with his size and quickness, and his history playing both ways at Ryan, and our needs on defense, why wasn't he playing DE or LB?

 

[mchammer]

Old 65,

My question is with his size and quickness, and his history playing both ways at Ryan, and our needs on defense, why wasn't he playing DE or LB?

He played DE when I saw him play.

 

[SabreHorn]

He's what; 6'4" & 255? Quick enough to play on the basketball team. Seems he had a chance to be our best LB and/or DE particularly in a 4-3 if K ever comes to his senses.

 

[dukesteer]

He's what; 6'4" & 255? Quick enough to play on the basketball team. Seems he had a chance to be our best LB and/or DE particularly in a 4-3 if K ever comes to his senses.

Agree 100%. He’s needed — badly — at LB or DE, not TE. Seems like a waste. We need a game changer on D. I vote for rush end.

 

[RainH2burntO]

Word is he looks good and the staff has very high hopes for him...wanted one more year of maturation and not burning redshirt. Expect to see him used in possibly a few different roles next year.
I would disagree on the defense over tight end comments...but I believe Jared Wiley is the real deal there, so...

Ja'tavion is a next level athlete, and I expect we will see him utilized next season much more. I do not fault Sark for not burning his redshirt just to "try him out" on defense.

 

[Horns11]

Here's what I said on last month's Sanders thread:

"He should have given up his WR dreams years ago and switched to DE preparation full time. I don't mind that Ryan used him in the way they did in order to win games, but the guy just isn't built to play that way in college. He was basically a 6'4" wall of a man who would push off of 5'7" DBs and come away with fancy one-handed catches constantly.

The chance of that translating into anything in college football is slim-to-none.

Seeing the paydays for guys like Bosa, Garrett, Khalil Mack, etc. should have been enough motivation alone, but also the fact that we have virtually no defensive ends capable of anything resembling a pass rush should have pushed him to get in there."

I stand by it. I really don't know what Sark, Coach K, and Davis failed to see in Sanders what they saw in guys like Thornton or Oghoufo, but my guess is that they toyed around too much with the idea of him playing offense and didn't have him getting meaningful practice snaps at Jack. That could be due to Sanders' preference as well, but that's kind of sad if his preference is to get buried on the TE depth chart and maybe get like 10-20 catches in a season instead of 10-20 sacks.

 

[dukesteer]

I believe that Collins has major upside as well, and am hoping for a breakout season in 22.