TJ Sanders 2025 NFL Draft: South Carolina DT Scouting Report
In a stacked 2025 NFL Draft class, TJ Sanders is a versatile defensive tackle that you need to know. Sanders is an athletic DT who played football for the South Carolina Gamecocks. Today, we’ll break down his NFL outlook in this scouting report. Additionally, we will be breaking down his strengths, areas for improvement, and his potential draft grade.
TJ Sanders 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Sanders, a product of Marion High School in South Carolina, arrived at the University of South Carolina as a three-star recruit with a multi-sport pedigree. A standout in both football and basketball, Sanders showcased his athleticism early on. Notably, he earned all-state basketball honors and led his high school football team to a state championship game appearance in 2020.
After redshirting in 2021, Sanders carved out a role with the Gamecocks. He emerged as a dominant force along the defensive line by his redshirt sophomore (2023) and junior (2024) seasons. With 109 career tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks across 39 games (16 starts), Sanders declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, forgoing his final year of eligibility.
Overall, Sanders possesses a tall, lean frame with long arms that enhance his ability to engage blockers and disrupt passing lanes. His build is more wiry than bulky, suggesting room to add functional mass at the next level. However, he carries his weight well, displaying a blend of quickness and power that stands out for an interior defensive lineman. Additionally, his athleticism translates to fluid movement and impressive short-area bursts.
HT: 6037
WT: 297
40: 5.02
ARM: 3318
Strengths
- Explosive First Step: Sanders fires off the ball with a twitchy get-off that allows him to penetrate gaps and disrupt plays before offensive linemen can fully set. His ability to time the snap enhances this trait.
- Pass-Rush Upside: With a quick swim move, effective hand swipes, and surprising bend for his size, Sanders has the tools to collapse pockets. His 4.5 sacks in 2023 and 2024 highlight his knack for finishing plays, while his 33 quarterback pressures in 2024 highlight his consistency as a disruptor.
- Versatility: Sanders has lined up everywhere from a 1-technique to a 5-technique, showcasing adaptability across defensive fronts. His lateral agility lets him stunt and loop effectively in pass-rush schemes.
- Motor: Relentless in pursuit, Sanders plays through the whistle with a high-effort style. He tracks down ball carriers sideline-to-sideline, a rare trait for a 297-pounder.
- Hand Usage: His violent, active hands allow him to disengage from blockers, particularly in one-on-one situations. He’s shown flashes of stacking and shedding with proper leverage.
Areas for Improvement
- Anchor Consistency: Sanders struggles to hold ground against double teams and power-based run schemes. His lighter frame and occasional high pad level leave him vulnerable to being displaced by bigger, stronger linemen.
- Technical Refinement: While his hand usage is promising, his strike timing and placement can be inconsistent, allowing savvy blockers to get into his chest. His pass-rush plan lacks polish, relying heavily on raw athleticism over counters.
- Functional Strength: Currently, Sanders lacks the lower-body mass to consistently reset the line of scrimmage against NFL-caliber interior linemen. Adding bulk without sacrificing quickness will be key.
- Run Defense Discipline: He can over-pursue or lose gap integrity when chasing plays, a byproduct of his aggressive style. This leads to occasional big runs when he’s caught out of position.
- Endurance Questions: Sanders’ high-motor approach sometimes wanes late in games, suggesting a need for improved conditioning to handle a full NFL snap count.
Conclusion
All in all, Sanders is a high-upside defensive tackle with the athletic tools to become a difference-maker in the NFL. His explosiveness and versatility make him an enticing Day 2 prospect. However, his success hinges on addressing technical inconsistencies and building a sturdier base. In the end, he could emerge as a steal for a team willing to invest in his growth in the right system.
Additionally, Sanders thrives as a gap-shooting 3-technique in an even front, where his quickness and length can exploit single blocks. His standout performance against Georgia in 2023—splitting double teams and recording a sack—showcased his ability to take over games when his technique aligns with his athleticism. In run defense, he’s most effective when slanting or penetrating, using his burst to knife into the backfield. However, when asked to two-gap or anchor against downhill runs, as seen in moments against Missouri’s power scheme in 2024, his limitations surface.
Overall, Sanders brings a blend of speed and power as a pass rusher. He often converts his initial burst into a bull rush or slipping through gaps with a well-timed swim. His flexibility to bend the corner on interior rushes is a rare asset, though he lacks a go-to counter when his first move is stalled. Additionally, his pursuit speed shines in open space, making him a threat to chase down quarterbacks and running backs. Sanders’ profile is similar to a slimmer, more athletic Javon Hargrave in his early NFL days—disruptive but needing refinement and mass to reach an elite level.
Sanders is best suited for an aggressive, one-gap defensive system, 4-3 or attacking 3-4, that prioritizes penetration over block-eating. Teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Indianapolis Colts could maximize his skill set early, and he will likely be taken on Day 2 of the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.
Round Grade: 2nd Round
Stats: Per Sports Reference
| Season | Team | Pos | G | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sk | FR |
| 2021* | South Carolina | DL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022* | South Carolina | DT | 12 | 6 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | South Carolina | DT | 12 | 28 | 15 | 10 | 4.5 | 0 |
| 2024* | South Carolina | DT | 13 | 29 | 21 | 7 | 4 | 0 |
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