3 Texas football 5-Star recruits ready to breakout in 2022

Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE

There are varying reasons as to why each of the former five-star recruits for the Longhorns are on this list and has yet to really live up to the hype of their lofty recruiting ranking. As far as the former elite five-star Denton-Guyer athlete recruit and sophomore tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders is concerned, he just hasn’t really had the time to settle in as of yet.

Sanders didn’t arrive in Austin as part of the Longhorns 2021 signing class with a set position. This coaching staff had the option to either play Sanders as more of an edge rusher/outside linebacker or defensive end if they chose to put him on the defensive side of the ball. Sanders also had ample experience playing at the tight end position when he lined up on offense for Denton-Guyer.

It also didn’t help the transition process for Sanders that he was originally recruited by and committed to the staff under former Texas head coach Tom Herman. The staff Sanders committed to was different than the one he is currently playing for, straining this transition process even further.

Yet, this looks like the year where Sanders is really primed to be a breakout candidate for the Longhorns. Sanders had a solid spring camp for the Longhorns, taking most of the first-team reps at the tight end position alongside the former Alabama Crimson Tide junior transfer Jahleel Billingsley.

If Sanders is a regular starter for Texas’ offense this fall, look out for him to be one of the breakout tight ends in the Big 12.