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TJ Sanders 2025 NFL Draft Profile

Trey Daubert / NFL, NFL Draft / April 17, 2025

TJ Sanders 2025 NFL Draft Profile

South Carolina defensive tackle TJ Sanders is up next for the 2025 NFL Draft profile series. This class of defensive tackles is semi-loaded, and a guy like Sanders seems to be falling under the radar. Let’s have a chat about what he might bring to the table at the next level.

NFL Draft Stock Report: Senior Bowl (1), (2), (3)

Sanders, 21, was a three star prospect during the 2021 cycle. Marion, South Carolina native was the 75th ranked defensive tackle and 6th best player in the state. Sanders checks in at 6-foot-4, 297, and spent all four years with the Gamecocks.

At the Combine, I think it revealed a lot of what we need to know here. It’s B’s on the report card vibes. Definitely late to react to things, but not a terrible pure athlete. Sanders didn’t run, but he flashed plenty at the early stages of the Senior Bowl.

After a redshirt first year and backup second season, Sanders was a mainstay on the line the final two seasons. Over the last two seasons, Sanders notched 8.5 sacks. A pretty damn good number playing the interior in the SEC. I watched a lot of South Carolina. I wouldn’t say he was overly dominant. There’s a reason why he’s not in the stock notes. Not a crazy bender, but he’s got nice handwork. Has some violence in his game and can navigate around blocks.

Needs to improve his pad level and play with better leverage. Not overly huge, but a pretty nice run defender. If he continues to get stronger and round out his game, he will be a nice contributor for any line.