Prospect Profile: Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas

Context

Lined up all over the formation but mostly as an in-line TE or in the backfield.

Receiving

Has a nice release from the line of scrimmage when in-line, he’s able to disguise himself as a blocker when he needs to, he’s also able to release through linebackers and stay on his path when working through the underneath zone in the middle of the field. He has enough play strength to defeat press with a jam, and has a good package to draw upon, especially with his hands to ensure good variety to his release. When he gets out into the route there are some deficiencies technically with some of his breaks. He slows down in his stem to ready himself for the break on hard angle breaks like deep comebacks or hitches. When he does turn 180 degrees, he needs some deceleration time and it tips off the defender covering him to his intentions. He has some limits to hip mobility so when he’s executing breaks that call for a 90 degree angle he can take too many steps vertically to transition to perpendicular to the line of scrimmage, making it far easier on the defender to stay in the rep, despite his explosion and acceleration.

He is a twitchy, explosive guy with really good speed for the position, so he eats up cushion on go routes up the seam quickly enough get behind the underneath Zone and get targeted. He has good posture on the whole on vertical cuts but when making the break, his feet can be quite wide, which will stop him manipulating defenders’ hips at the next level. He gets open against Zone coverage as he’s adept at finding the soft spots in the Zone. He separates against man coverage, mostly with play strength. He gets into a defender, the strongest can compete with him and stay in phase, and then extends away from them on slants, digs, outs. He will use his hands to clear the defender and get open in the first few yards after his break. In terms of catching the football, he does well when the ball is thrown directly at him while stationary, as with balls thrown with touch over his shoulder. Where he has some trouble is when he’s perpendicular to the line of scrimmage and the ball is thrown outside his frame. The further outside his frame the ball reaches him, the more likely he is to have brought his hands together from further apart to make the catch at the last second. He must start attacking those targets correctly to make it as a regular contributor at the next level. He does get YAC, with his speed, he is able to run away from lots of types of defenders, including LBs and Safeties. He can also win with play strength and has a good stiff-arm that he hasn’t been able to use too frequently.

Blocking

Not exactly what you would call a physical blocker. On most Gap blocks, his hand placement is far too high and his timing is poor so he gets stood up and controlled at the point of attack. He positions well for Gap blocks but doesn’t fit the block well enough for it be functional and he doesn’t have the play strength to hold up. He positions well as a space blocker but his fit still leaves something to be desired and it means defenders can escape his clutches. Struggles to reach block effectively to a 7 technique when on the backside facing Outside Zone. Good on double teams and can take over the block at the LOS effectively.

SUMMARY
Athletically gifted guy with good play strength to separate and finds the soft spot in the Zone well. Has some deficiencies to correct in his breaks, has major issues as a blocker.

PRODUCTION
JR: 67 Tgts, 45 Recs, 682 Rec Yards (15.2 Ave), 2 Rec TDs
SO: 72 Tgts, 54 Recs, 613 Rec Yards (11.4 Ave), 5 Rec TDs
INJURY: None

RAVENS FIT
Athleticism 4
Intelligence 4
Versatility 3
Grit 2
Scheme 3