TJ Sanders Scouting Report

By: Michael Higgins

(Image courtesy of Jeff Blake/IMAGN Images)

School: South Carolina

Class: Redshirt Junior

Position: IDL

HT: 6’4

WT: 297 lbs

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Background: TJ Sanders was a 3-star defensive lineman out of Marion, South Carolina. Sanders was a top 10 player in South Carolina for the 2021 class. Sanders helped Marion High School reach the state championship game as a senior in 2020. That year, he was named League Defensive Player of the Year. He also earned conference Player of the Year honors in basketball, where he averaged a double-double. TJ chose to stay home and play for South Carolina over Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Indiana.

College: Sanders redshirted is first season with the Gamecocks before becoming a rotational piece on the defensive line in 2022. TJ became a mainstay on the line in 2023 with 43 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, and 4.5 sacks. These numbers were good enough to earn him All-SEC honors. Sanders built upon that production in 2024, recording 50 tackles, 7 TFLs, and 4 sacks.

Strengths: TJ Sanders is a violent pass rusher from the interior who has active hands in the phone booth. He wins battles at the point of attack with strength and violence. He explodes out of his stance and into the pads of offensive linemen to generate maximum power and knock his opponents off their foundation. His size bodes well for him as his combination of length and mass is often too overwhelming for interior offensive linemen. He plays with good leverage to get under the pads and wins with a variety of power moves. Sanders is a fluid athlete with great feet, allowing him to have effective counter moves if his initial rush is stalled. He is a high-effort player and even if his strength is matched, he keeps his legs and hands active until he finds a way to win his assignment. In the run game, Sanders plugs running lanes well. He can defend multiple gaps at once, making him a nice fit for an odd man front. He has the lateral quickness and ankle flexion to cut across the line and meet the running back in the gap.

Weaknesses: Sanders tends to hesitate between the point where his original rushing plan is stopped and when he begins his counter rush plan. Sanders can be displaced and knocked off his rush if he does not win on his initial move. He does well to shoot into the pads of opponent, but he plays at an inconsistent pad level. He often gives up leverage by playing too high.

Conclusion: TJ Sanders is a playmaker on the interior. He is stout in the run game and a dynamic pass rusher, making him a three-down player. Sanders will look to have more than just a depth rotational role and can make a big impact on the interior of an NFL defensive line.

Ideal Role: 3 tech

Best Team Fits: LAC, JAX, SF

Player Comparison: Ruke Orhororo

Player Grade: Round 3 (76.6)