The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Ja’Tavion Sanders drafted by Carolina Panthers
04.27.2024 | Football
Texas TE Ja’Tavion Sanders was selected in the fourth round with the 101st overall pick.
DETROIT – Texas tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders was selected by the Carolina Panthers with the 101st overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Saturday.
Sanders the first Texas tight end drafted since Geoff Swaim was selected in the seventh round by the Dallas Cowboys in 2015 and the earliest picked since Jermichael Findley went in the third round to the Green Bay Packers in 2008. Sanders is the second Longhorn drafted by Carolina in this draft, joining teammate Jonathon Brooks who was selected in the second round. Texas' six picks in this draft are the most for the program since 2010.
"Carolina got another great Longhorn and a very talented player in JT," said Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. "Ja'Tavion has extremely strong hands, great ball skills with the ball in the air and consistently makes contested catches. He was a guy that was very highly recruited coming out of high school but was really a big wide receiver and a defensive end. We got posed with the question of how we'd use him, and we knew with some patience he could become a great tight end. And he did just that, literally spending a year in the lab working on becoming an exceptional all-around tight end. His freshman year, he was on special teams and that was really it, so really most of his 99 catches came over the past two seasons. Early on, I'd get asked at every other press conference I had, 'What's wrong with JT Sanders?' and I'd say there's nothing wrong with him, he's developing. He's going to be a great player for us, but he's in a developmental stage of his career, and sure enough, the next two years he went out and was an all-conference player for us. He works hard at his craft, has an extremely high football IQ, and we asked him to do a lot in our offense, and he definitely did great things for us.
"JT has elite hands, is a guy who can make contested catches, has a really high football IQ and has the ability to play not only in the pass game, but in the run game, as well. He's versatile, he's a guy who can split out and play some in the wide receiver type sets. He just turned 21, so he's still relatively young for a guy with three years of experience coming out of college who learned a new to position in that time. So, I know he's got huge upside and a bright, bright future ahead of him. He's still just scratching the surface, and I'm excited for JT and where it can go for him with the Panthers."
A native of Denton, Texas, Sanders played in 39 games with 27 starts during his three seasons in Austin. A two-time John Mackey Award semifinalist, Sanders hauled in 99 receptions for 1,295 yards and seven touchdowns during his three seasons in Austin. His 99 receptions are the most all-time for a Texas tight end, while his 1,295 receiving yards rank second in program history. He also holds Texas tight end single-season records for receptions (54 in 2022) and receiving yards (682 in 2023).
As a sophomore in 2023, Sanders was named to the All-Big 12 First Team for the second consecutive season. He caught 45 passes for 682 yards and two touchdowns. At Alabama, he hauled in five passes for 114 yards, the third-most in a game for a Longhorn tight end, and at Baylor he caught five passes for 110 yards, the fourth-most in a game for a UT tight end. In the Big 12 Championship against Oklahoma State, he collected eight receptions for 105 yards and one touched and had a 12-yard rush. His three 100-yard games are the most in a season and a career for a Texas tight end.
Sanders burst onto the scene in 2022, catching 54 passes for 613 yards and five touchdowns, earning first-team All-Big 12 honors from both the Big 12 Conference head coaches and the Associated Press and selection as a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award. His 54 receptions are the most for a tight end in program history and his 613 receiving yards were tied for second-most in a season by a tight end in program history.
A two-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll, Sanders earned Academic All-Big 12 First Team honors in 2022 and was a 2021-22 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team honoree.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
On if he has talked to Jonathon Brooks:
Yes, I FaceTimed with him. It's a great feeling. We came into college together, so we've experienced college and been through the ups and downs, highs and lows. It's just a great experience.
On his strengths that will impact the Panthers:
Definitely my ability to create mismatches wherever I'm at on the field and just putting that in the defense's mind that they always have to know where I am at all times. So, just being able to do that and create more value for myself and my teammates, as well. Having the size and speed that let me do what I can do and make the plays I can make, it just all plays into it.
On Bryce Young:
I know he beat us at our home stadium, so that says a lot about him already. I know what type of quarterback he is, what kind of guy he is, he's a true leader and someone I want as my quarterback and someone throwing me touchdowns.
On if he thought he might join Jonathon Brooks in talking to him:
I wasn't expecting this at all, but when I called him he had a big smile on his face, and I had one too. I know what type of player he is, I know what type of player I am, and I know what we're both going to bring to the table. He's coming back from an injury, so I know what type of mode he's going to be in and what he's going to do for the organization, so I just can't wait to share this next chapter in life with my brother.
On his interactions with the Panthers pre-draft and his thoughts on GM Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales:
When I took a visit there, they made it feel like home. So now that I'm going to play for the organization it just means a lot. Meeting them for the first time and meeting all the coaches and some of the staff around the facility, it just felt like home, so I'm happy to be somewhere they want me.
On feeling prepared to take the next step coming out of Texas:
I feel like I'm extremely prepared. Given the offense I was in, Coach Sark has an NFL style offense with him being in Atlanta, and especially at the tight end position, in his offense I do everything, so I feel like I've got experience in that area.
On his Texas coaches and teammates:
I just want to thank everyone, all the coaches and staff and my teammates for giving me a chance to come play for them and represent them. I can't thank them all enough from Coach Sark and Coach Banks and everyone.
On his message to Longhorn nation:
I love Longhorn nation. I love everything about the Longhorns from the city to the university to the stadium, the fans. I appreciate everything y'all have done for me with the support over the past three years and allowing me to be who I am at one of the most prestigious universities in the world. I just want to thank Longhorn Nation. Hook 'em!
ON SOCIAL MEDIA
"You're damn right I am." @Jatavionsanders is ready to be a Panther.@Verizon | #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/lkXPWoEGj7
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 27, 2024
The nickname 🙌 pic.twitter.com/bMmnj9j39o
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 27, 2024
How 🤯 pic.twitter.com/XU2tHhESWE
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 27, 2024
Looking forward to more of this 🤘@2brookss x @Jatavionsanders x @Panthers pic.twitter.com/lx0S12JcgW
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 27, 2024
😏@TexasFootball pic.twitter.com/ZLqcEvJrIB
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 27, 2024
Carolina bound! 🤘@Jatavionsanders x @Panthers x #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/h5fxXiiNQE
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 27, 2024
The catch radius is insane@Jatavionsanders x @Panthers x #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/9Cn3rtYriP
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 27, 2024
#NotiGang wave back 👋 pic.twitter.com/8eGJKOzfci
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 27, 2024
Welcome, Ja'Tavion Sanders!
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 27, 2024
From our International Fan of the Year, David Löbbert.#KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/CXkKCdstCJ
Another one 💥 pic.twitter.com/QefwAeqnPZ
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 27, 2024
ATX 🤝 CAR #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/MzDCEg3ddX
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 27, 2024
JT is a Panther 🤘@Jatavionsanders x @Panthers pic.twitter.com/QvcuJAh7Hf
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 27, 2024
