T.J. Sanders has been a stout producer for South Carolina for the past two years and is expected to get picked during this draft cycle. Here is a 2025 NFL Draft Early Scouting Report and film analysis on him.
Overview, Film Analysis, And Early 2025 Scouting Report Of South Carolina DL T.J. Sanders
Measurables:
- 6’4”
- 290 lbs
Player Background:
One of the Top-10 players in the state of South Carolina, T.J. Sanders committed to the Gamecocks out of Marlon HS. He was ranked as a three-star prospect in the 2021 class and among the Top-100 defensive lineman recruits. During his freshman season he appeared in just two games, accumulating a quarterback hurry, and maintaining his redshirt status. He worked his way onto the field for 12 games the following season, without starting any.
In said contests, Sanders made 16 tackles with a sack and a pass breakup. He then became a strong contributor to the SC defense in 2023 with over 40 tackles, 9.5 tackles-for-loss, 4.5 sacks, and four PBUs. He returned for the 2024 season to boost his stock and did exactly that in all 13 games. His season totals finished at 51 tackles, seven TFLs, four sacks, and a pass breakup.
Accolades:
- Third-Team All-America (2024)
- Second-Team All-SEC (2024)
- SEC Interior Defender of the Year (2024)
- Third-Team All-SEC (2023)
Strengths/Pros:
Sanders is as explosive as anyone when exploding out of his stance and is able to generate leverage extremely quickly. He positions himself well between offensive linemen to puncture gaps and be a commanding presence on the interior. This early burst allows him to swarm rushers in the backfield and be a decent pass rusher. His arms are strong when working around interior lineman and can contort both within and without contact to set up leverage as a pass rusher.
He flashes a solid whip move at the line, keeping his base steady and regaining momentum fast. Sanders’ anchor against inside runs is impressive and laterally disengages well to close out rushing plays. He’s built well with good length and sets himself up away from the OL to establish himself before driving. He has experience around the defensive line and can play at multiple spots. He’s a great overall run defender, attacking the ball carrier with efficiency and bringing them down with ease.
Weaknesses/Cons:
Sanders isn’t a great athlete at the DL position and that leads to some unfortunate shortcomings. He doesn’t move particularly well laterally, often restricted to smaller areas and is unable to work around the line of scrimmage. He gets too high in his pads when rushing the passer, and runs into that issue early in plays. It prevents him from maintaining any leverage advantages and doesn’t let his legs dictate his drive.
His stiffness increases exponentially when his initial moves fail, getting himself locked out and too reliant on his bull rush. Sanders’ non-contact movements at the line get too clunky and won’t win often with twitchy, compact adjustments. His feet get slow after first contact and doesn’t continue to push through linemen. His stamina and conditioning become legitimate problems as games wear on, causing concern with any potential three-down ability.
Potential Team Fits:
NFL Projection:
Sanders’ NFL future is likely more within a rotational role rather than a full-time starter, but he’s an effective enough all-around player to be coveted. His ability to win at the line as both a pass-rusher and run stopper will draw in many DL-needy teams for his services. NFL coaching staffs will likely heavily stress improvement in his conditioning, but he has enough of a foundation as it stands to be an adequate and reliable DL in certain packages.
Prospect Grade:
- Early 4th Round
Film Exposures:
- 2024 vs. Clemson
- 2024 vs. Alabama
- 2024 vs. LSU
Main Photo: Jeff Blake – USA Today Sports
