Ja'Tavion Sanders

Ja'Tavion Sanders (born March 27, 2003) is an American professional football tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns, earning all-conference honors in 2022 and 2023.

Ja'Tavion Sanders

No. 0 – Carolina Panthers
Position:	Tight end
Personal information
Born:	(2003-03-27) March 27, 2003 (age 22) Killeen, Texas, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:	252 lb (114 kg)
Career information
High school:	Billy Ryan (Denton, Texas)
College:	Texas (2021–2023)
NFL draft:	2024: 4th round, 101st pick
Career history
Carolina Panthers (2024–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
2× first-team All-Big 12 (2022, 2023)
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Receptions: 33 Receiving yards: 342 Receiving touchdowns: 1 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

Sanders grew up in Denton, Texas and attended Billy Ryan High School, where he played basketball and was a wide receiver and defensive end on the football team.^[1] He was named first team All-District 4-5A Division 1 at defensive end after recording 39 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, two forced fumbles, and three passes broken up while also catching 47 passes for 763 yards and 7 touchdowns on offense.^[2] Sanders had 63 receptions for 1,161 yards and 16 touchdown receptions with three rushing touchdowns while also recording four sacks and an interception on offense and was named the co-MVP of District 5-5A Division 1.^[3][4] Sanders was rated a five-star recruit as an athlete and committed to play college football at Texas over offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M.^[5]

College career

Sanders joined the Texas Longhorns as an early enrollee in 2021 and played on both offense and defense during preseason practices.^[6] The team's coaching staff ultimately decided that he would play tight end.^[7] Sanders played in all 12 of the Texas's games during his freshman season, primarily on special teams.^[8] Sanders entered his sophomore season as the Longhorns' primary tight end after transfer Jahleel Billingsley was suspended for the team's first six games.^[9][10] Sanders was twice-named All-Big 12 before declaring for the 2024 NFL draft following the team's loss in the 2024 Sugar Bowl.^[11]

College statistics

Texas Longhorns
Year	G	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD
2021	12	0	0	0.0	0
2022	13	54	613	11.4	5
2023	14	45	682	15.2	2
Career	39	99	1,295	13.1	7

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press
6 ft 3+7⁄8 in (1.93 m)	245 lb (111 kg)	32+7⁄8 in (0.84 m)	10+1⁄8 in (0.26 m)	4.69 s	1.59 s	2.70 s	4.32 s	30.0 in (0.76 m)	9 ft 6 in (2.90 m)	8 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[12][13]

Sanders was selected in the fourth round with the 101st overall pick by the Carolina Panthers in the 2024 NFL draft.^[14] As a rookie, he finished with 33 receptions for 342 yards and one touchdown.^[15]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold	Career best

Regular season

Year	Team	Games		Receiving					Rushing					Fumbles
		GP	GS	Rec	Yds	Y/R	Lng	TD	Att	Yds	Y/A	Lng	TD	Fum	Lost
2024	CAR	16	8	33	342	10.4	46	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Career		16	8	33	342	10.4	46	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0