Ja'Tavion Sanders becomes fourth Texas tight end to eclipse 1,000 career receiving yards
With his second quarter catch, Ja’Tavion Sanders became the fourth tight end in UT history to eclipse 1,000 career receiving yards.
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Sanders joins David Thomas (1,367 yards), Pat Fitzgerald (1,106 yards), and Lawrence Sampleton (1,071) on the all-time list.
Sanders was named a John Mackey Award semifinalist on Wednesday, The Friends of John Mackey announced, the second straight year that Sanders has earned semifinalist honors from the award given annually to the nation’s top tight end.
Sanders has been vital to Steve Sarkisian, Jeff Banks, and the Texas offense over the last two years.
He’s started all 10 games for Texas in 2023, catching 22 passes for 378 yards and a touchdown heading into tonight’s contest with TCU. He recorded 100-yard games versus Alabama and Baylor, and his 114-yard effort over the Crimson Tide were the third most by a tight end in a game in Texas history.
Sanders really shined in 2022, catching a school tight end record 54 passes for 613 yards and five touchdowns. His 613 yards were the second most by a tight end in school history, equaling Thomas’ 2005 numbers.
Heading into tonight’s game, Sanders is currently tied for third among Texas tight ends in career receptions with 76, fifth in receiving yards with 991, and seventh in touchdowns with six scores. He is one of the top 2024 draft prospects where Pro Football Focus has him No. 38 on its NFL Draft Big Board, and ESPN’s Mel Kiper tabbed him as the No. 2 tight end behind Georgia’s Brock Bowers.
Sanders was an On3 Industry Ranking five-star from Texas high school football power DentonRyan, and is joined in Austin by former Ryan teammates Anthony Hill Jr and Austin Jordan.
