The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
2022 Football Roster
Roster
Ja'Tavion Sanders
- Position:
- TE
- Height:
- 6-4
- Hometown:
- Denton, Texas
- Weight:
- 242
- Class:
- Sophomore
- High School:
- Ryan
- Major:
- Physical Culture and Sports
A three-year tight end who appeared in 39 games with 27 starts … ranks first all-time among Texas tight ends in career receptions (99), second in receiving yards (1,295) and sixth in receiving touchdowns (seven) … named All-Big 12 First Team in 2023 … a 2022 first-team All-Big 12 selection by both the Big 12 Conference head coaches and the Associated Press … semifinalist for the 2022 and 2023 John Mackey Award ... named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team in 2022 ... 2021-22 Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team honoree ... two-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll (fall 2021, spring 2022).
JUNIOR (2023)
All-Big 12 First Team ... John Mackey Award semifinalist … a second-team All-American selection by CBS Sports … named honorable mention All-American by Phil Steele … tabbed second-team All-Big 12 by Phil Steele … played in and started all 14 games … totaled 45 receptions for 682 yards and two touchdowns … had three 100-yard receiving games … is the only Texas tight end in program history with multiple career 100-yard receiving games … set a single-season record for a UT tight end with 682 receiving yards … 45 receptions tied for the third-most in a season in program history … had 12 receptions of 20-plus yards with two touchdowns … hauled in two passes for 44 yards and one touchdown against Rice … caught five passes for a career-high 114 yards at No. 3 Alabama, including a career-long 50-yard reception … marked the first 100-yard game of his career and the first for a Texas tight end since 2007 … was named the John Mackey Tight End of the Week … had five receptions for 110 yards at Baylor … included a 49-yard reception … became the first Texas tight end with multiple 100-yard receiving games in a career … had a 10-yard reception against Kansas and a 13-yard reception versus Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry … caught two passes for 29 yards at Houston … collected four receptions for 37 yards against BYU … tallied two receptions for 21 yards versus Kansas State … recorded four receptions for 47 yards at TCU … added two receptions for 32 yards at Iowa State … tallied three receptions for 45 yards against Texas Tech … equaled his career-high with eight receptions for 105 yards and one touchdown against Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship game victory … caught six passes for 75 yards against Washington in the Sugar Bowl … a Midseason All-Texas First Team selection by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football … selected to the Lombardi Award midseason watch list … named to the preseason watch lists for the John Mackey Award, Lombardi Award and Lonestar Player of the Year ... a Preseason All-Big 12 selection ... chosen second-team Preseason All-America by CBS Sports, Phil Steele and The Athletic ... a Preseason All-America Third Team honoree by Athlon Sports ... selected Preseason All-Big 12 First Team by Athlon Sports and Phil Steele ... named Preseason All-Texas First Team by Dave Campbell's Texas Football.
SOPHOMORE (2022)
A first-team All-Big 12 selection by both the Big 12 Conference head coaches and the Associated Press … named a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award … played in and started all 13 games … caught 54 passes for 613 yards and five touchdowns ... the 54 receptions on the season were the most for a tight end in program history and his 613 receiving yards tied for second-most in a season by a tight end in program history ... his 54 career receptions are the eighth-most all-time for a Texas tight end and his 613 career receiving yards are the 10th-most by a tight end in UT history ... caught six passes for a career-high 85 yards and one touchdown at ULM … hauled in three passes for four yards against Alabama … caught five passes for 40 yards at Texas Tech … had five receptions for 78 yards and two touchdowns against West Virginia … made five catches for 71 yards and two touchdowns in the Red River Showdown against Oklahoma … hauled in three receptions for 37 yards versus Iowa State … caught six passes for 76 yards at Oklahoma State … had five receptions for 54 yards at Kansas State … tallied 61 yards on seven receptions against TCU … had a pair of receptions for 65 yards against Baylor ... caught five passes for 36 yards in the Alamo Bowl against Washington ... was a preseason watch list candidate for the John Mackey Award.
FRESHMAN (2021)
Played in all 12 games … appeared primarily on special teams with the field goal unit.
HIGH SCHOOL
An All-America, all-state and two-time all-district honoree who helped Denton Ryan to the 5A Division 1 state title in 2020 ... selected for the 2021 Under Armour All-America Game ... named a finalist for the 2020 SI All-American team ... chosen as a finalist for the 2020 Mr. Texas Football award ... ranked No. 13 nationally, No. 2 among athletes and No. 2 in the state of Texas by ESPN ... rated No. 13 nationally, No. 1 among athletes and No. 3 in the state of Texas by Rivals ... ranked No. 29 nationally, No. 1 among athletes and No. 3 in the state of Texas by 247Sports ... ranked the top defensive end and No. 3 overall in the state by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football ... chosen for the cover of the 2021 Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Rising magazine ... selected to the Texas MaxPreps All-State first team as an all-purpose player in 2020 ... chosen co-MVP of District 5-5A Division 1 ... chosen to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Super Team Defense ... tabbed mid-season 5A co-Player of the Year by the Dallas Morning News ... rated No. 2 in the Dallas Morning News Area Top 100 ... a PrepStar Top 150 Dream Team selection ... pulled in 63 receptions for 1,161 yards (18.4 ypr) and 16 touchdowns, while rushing 23 times for 71 yards and three touchdowns ... had four sacks and an interceptions on defense as a senior ... part of a defense that allowed just 15.8 points per game, including seven games of 10 points or fewer ... posted five 100-yard receiving games ... caught at least five passes in nine games ... registered seven receptions for 122 yards and two touchdowns against Martin ... tallied five receptions for 107 yards and two touchdowns against The Colony ... secured a season-high three touchdown receptions against Heritage ... accumulated 145 receiving yards on five receptions with two receiving touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns against Independence ... recorded season highs of eight receptions and 216 receiving yards (27.0 ypr) with two touchdowns against College Station ... gathered seven receptions for 115 yards and one touchdown along with a rushing touchdown against Longview ... helped Denton Ryan to a perfect 15-0 record, including a 7-0 district mark and title, and the 5A Division 1 state title ... a first-team honoree on Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Super Team in 2020 ... named 5A All-State Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-state at defensive end by the Texas Sports Writers Association in 2019 ... selected honorable mention 5A All-State by the Associate Press ... chosen first-team All-District 4-5A Division 1 ... posted 39 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 24 pressures, two forced fumbles and three pass breakups as a junior ... also played on offense at receiver and caught 47 passes for 763 yards and seven touchdowns ... part of a defense that allowed 11.3 points per game, including three shutouts and nine games of 10 points or fewer ... notched seven tackles, including five tackles for loss and three sacks with one fumble recovery and five pressures against Fossil Ridge ... logged six games with at least five receptions, including season highs of six catches, 97 yards and one touchdown against Poteet ... helped Ryan to a 15-1 overall record, including an undefeated regular season and a 7-0 district mark and title, and an appearance in the 5A Division 1 state championship game in 2019 ... tabbed Defensive Newcomer of the Year in District 4-5A in 2018 ... registered 54 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, six pass breakups, and two interceptions, including one for a touchdown as a sophomore ... also caught 23 passes for 378 yards and five touchdowns ... part of a defense that allowed just 14.9 points per game, including three shutouts and six games of seven points or fewer ... collected at least four tackles in six games, including two with a season-high eight tackles ... recorded eight tackles, five tackles for loss and three sacks against West Mesquite ... gathered eight tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks against Birdville ... tallied season highs of four catches, 77 yards and two touchdown receptions against Brewer ... caught at least one pass in 12 games ... helped Ryan to a 14-1 overall record, including an undefeated regular season and a 7-0 district mark and title, and an appearance in the 5A Division 1 state semifinals in 2018 ... played in four varsity games as a freshman in 2017 ... caught five passes for 130 yards ... helped Ryan to a 14-1 overall record, including an undefeated regular season and a 6-0 district mark and title, and an appearance in the 5A Division 1 state semifinals in 2017 ... played for head coach Dave Henigan ... also played basketball at Ryan.
