A future in the NFL replaces ‘hoop dreams’ for South Carolina defensive tackle TJ Sanders
TJ Sanders has had to explain more than once why it took so long to start playing football. Especially as the South Carolina defensive tackle prepares for next month’s NFL Draft.
General managers and coaches have been asking the question to Sanders — and his answer remains the same.
“I had hoop dreams, man,” Sanders said telling fellow Gamecock teammate Alex Huntley as the two finished up meeting with reporters at South Carolina’s Pro Day.
Earlier, Sanders talked to the media about his love and passion for the game of basketball. The 6-foot-3, 305-pounder played some football in middle school but didn’t pick up again until the start of his junior year at the urging of Randall Slate, his high school coach at Marion High in the Pee Dee area of South Carolina.
The Gamecocks were the first Power Four school to offer him in March 2021. Four months later, he committed to South Carolina and was a mainstay on the Gamecocks’ defensive line for his four seasons.
Now, with the NFL Draft a little over a month away, he is planning for his football future, something he didn’t think was possible just five years ago.
“I was a hooper. I wasn’t touching no football,” Sanders said with a smile. “One minute you think you are going to the NBA and the next thing you are doing things for the NFL. Crazy how your life can change in the blink of an eye. I am just thankful and taking it all in.
“Without football, I wouldn’t have got to do so many things and meet guys like Boogie Huntley and other guys. Extremely blessed.”
Sanders still plays pickup basketball and if you ask his teammates who were some of the best hoopers on the Gamecocks, his name always is in the top five. But it is the sport of football where he has developed his craft at South Carolina.
It could be the second straight year a player from Marion County, which isn’t known for producing a lot of top-flight football talent, is selected in the NFL Draft. The Carolina Panthers took Mullins High School WR and former Gamecock Xavier Legette in the first round of last year’s draft.
Early mock drafts had Sanders being a possible first-round selection but recent ones have him going on Day Two in the second or third round. He was one of 11 Gamecocks that took part in last month’s NFL Combine where he went through most drills and met with NFL personnel.
At USC’s Pro Day, he ran the 40-yard dash, something he didn’t do at the Combine and recorded a 4.99. That would have been eighth-quickest among defensive tackles that took part at the Combine.
“Doing some of these drills I have been doing but just on a bigger stage. Just having confidence in yourself. Really was the easiest part,” Sanders said. “The Combine was a great experience, being out there with a bunch of guys you heard of and heard about. Definitely cool deal.
“. Just been receiving feedback from NFL teams and things I have to work on and can be better. It is surreal being in front of head coaches and general managers in the league. I’m thankful for the opportunity to take part in it.”
