4 takeaways from Texas football’s presiding win over UL-Monroe

Ja’Tavion Sanders is an amazing outlet for Quinn Ewers

This was a huge night for the former elite five-star recruit and sophomore tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders in his first game as a starter for the Longhorns. As the quintessential TE1 in this game for the Longhorns, Sanders had a very productive night where he actually became the primary target for Ewers.

Sanders finished up the night with six catches for 85 receiving yards (14.5 yards per catch) and one touchdown catch. He also reeled in the first touchdown pass of Ewers’ career. That just happened to be the first touchdown catch of Sanders’ collegiate career.

Furthermore, Sanders really looked the part on this night. He’s likely going to deliver exactly what this Texas offense needs at the tight end position. Sanders can be a reliable and potent outlet for Ewers when his primary read might not be there.

And with what Sanders showed us he can do in the opener in terms of picking up yards after the catch, I don’t doubt that he’s going to continue to be one of the two or three most productive targets in the passing game for Ewers and Sark.

Coming into the season, I wasn’t sure whether Sanders or the former Alabama transfer and senior Jahleel Billingsley would be the top tight end target in the passing game. But if this game told us anything, it’s that Sanders will be TE1 when it comes to targets in the passing game in most weeks.