MARION, S.C. – Marion native T.J. Sanders enjoyed a breakout season for the South Carolina Gamecocks. The 6-foot-5 red-shirt sophomore defensive tackle appeared in 12 games during the 2022 season with a single sack and 16 tackles. The 298 pound pass rusher followed up the 2023 season multiplying his production and earning accolades along the way.
Sanders racked-up 43 total tackles, including a team leading 9.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks while defending four passes.
“I definitely feel like I can do more,” Sanders said. “We won five games and I had a pretty good year but I always feel like I can do more just to help us get a couple of more wins and make it to a bowl game and further our season.”
It remained quite season for Sanders. The former Marion Swamp Foxes star followed up with two tackles and his first sack on the season in a 47-27 win against Furman. The next week he was named the co-SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week for his performance against a top-ranked Georgia team with a career-high nine tackles, including a pair of tackles for loss and a sack.
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Sanders also earned recognition as the 2023 Rex Enright Defensive Player of the Spring and 2023 co-South Carolina Spirit Award on defense.
Sanders is aware his role increased.
“I started like four or five games this year and probably won’t come off the bench again,” he said. “I feel like that’s been good for me to go out there and play those big time minutes to set myself up for next year.”
Sanders said he is eager to return to action for the Gamecocks in the 2024 season and officially signed with the University of South Carolina’s official NIL Collective, The Garnet Trust.
“Anything you want, you have to go work for it,” Sanders said of playing in the trenches against some of the toughest programs in college football. “In the SEC nothing is given and I just feel like to be successful you got to go in and put in the work.”
Sanders said he’s excited for what’s ahead.
“With this offseason I’m about to put together if people thought this year was good I can’t wait for them to see next year.”
The NFL draft buzz is growing louder as he progresses showcasing the nimble agility from his all-state basketball playing days in high school along with the strength and athleticism he developed on the football field.
PFF’s Trevor Sikkema already ranked Sanders No. 179 on the 2024 NFL Draft Big Board.
