Texas Football: 3 players that benefit most from the Paul Chryst hire

JT Sanders, TE

The different ways that Chryst was able to scheme up different tight end personnel packages and looks pre-snap to generate big plays in the ground game at Wisconsin were really impressive. And it could have a real impact on the direction of junior tight end JT Sanders’ game heading into next season in terms of his development as a run blocker.

If Sanders can develop more as a blocker this season, that could help to really boost his stock if he decides to declare early for the 2024 NFL Draft. We already know what Sanders can do as a weapon in the passing game.

The 6-foot-4 and 250-pound Sanders is a big target in the passing game that is versatile enough to line up inline, out of the slot, or on the boundary. Sark can utilize him as a bit of a chess piece pre-snap to throw different looks at opposing defenses and confuse opposing defensive coordinators.

And if Chryst can help Sark, Flood, and the Longhorns add another layer to Sanders’ game in terms of utilizing him in different creative packages and pre-snap alignments as a blocking tight end, that will only benefit the First-Team All-Big 12 selection from last season.

Sark actually pinpointed run blocking as one of the biggest areas of improvement for Sanders ahead of the 2023 season when he spoke to the media late in spring ball (specifically on April 11).

"“Run-game wise, there is still an evolution to his game where I think he can take it to another level from a blocking perspective.”"

Given Sark’s emphasis on Sanders improving as a run blocker with the need for Texas to have more consistent blocking from the tight ends to help set the tone in the ground game, it makes perfect sense that Chryst can help this part of his game heading into next season.