The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1532537
PLAYER BIOS ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ ❱ MARCH 2025 ❱ THE WOLVERINE 37 BY EJ HOLLAND Michigan special teams co- ordinator J.B. Brown spent the back end of the spring 2024 evaluation period mining for talent in his home state of Texas. One of Brown's last stops was Kilgore High, where he saw On300 cornerback signee Jayden Sanders. At that time, Sanders was a virtual un- known on the recruiting trail and unranked by the major re- cruiting services. Brown turned on the tape of this hidden gem for secondary coach LaMar Morgan and head coach Sherrone Moore. The two signed off, and Michigan extended an offer. "I was a big sleeper," Sand- ers said. "I live in a small city in East Texas. Football is big here, but my name just didn't get around much. I started to rise after I went to camps. I'm proud that my name blew up, but I still have something to push for." Sanders worked out in front of Mor- gan and Moore on his first visit to Mich- igan in June. He returned later in the month for an official visit and gave the Wolverines a verbal commitment while he was in Ann Arbor. While his father, Nick, had attended TCU, Sanders wanted to get away from home and create his own legacy. Michi- gan checked all the boxes. "I feel like I can learn a lot from Coach Morgan," Sanders said. "I had a great meeting with Coach Moore on my visit, and I really trust him. I think they can develop me, and I think we can win games in these upcoming seasons. We have one of the best recruiting classes that Michigan has had in a while. I'm excited about the future." Sanders didn't have much time to get to know Morgan, a fellow Texas native, prior to his commitment, but the two were able to quickly form a strong re- lationship. "Coach Morgan is a great person," Sanders said. "I was coached by him on my visit, and I like the way he coaches. He has a great eye for talent. I love the way he approaches the game. He goes to church. He cares about family. I'm just excited to play for him." Sanders is now ranked as the No. 26 cornerback and No. 175 overall prospect nationally, making him one of the big- gest rankings risers of the entire cycle. A two-way high school standout, Sanders is extremely athletic and has a ton of upside. While he may need time to develop, he is arriving in Ann Arbor with a chip on his shoulder and is ready to prove himself in The Big House. "I want to help Michigan win another national championship," Sanders said. "Maybe two or three. I see myself devel- oping under Coach Morgan and enter- ing the NFL Draft. That's my goal, and that's what I think I can accomplish at Michigan." ❑ Jayden Sanders Was A Hidden Gem At Cornerback Sanders was rated the nation's No. 175 overall player and No. 26 cornerback, and the No. 28 prospect in Texas in the On3 Industry Ranking. PHOTO BY EJ HOLLAND STATISTICS Year Tackles INT PBU 2024 27 3 15 2023 42 4 12 HONORS • As a senior, selected as the District 9-4A Divi- sion II Most Valuable Player. • Also named to the all-district first-team and academic all-district squads. RECRUITMENT • Pledged to Michigan on Aug. 10, 2024, a er receiving an offer in June 2024. • Picked U-M over Baylor, Texas Tech, Vanderbilt and others. • Recruited by secondary coach LaMar Morgan. DID YOU KNOW? • As a receiver on offense, had 46 recep ons for 750 yards and 7 touchdowns as a senior. • Scored 9 TDs as a junior, including a pair on special teams. • Le ered in basketball and track and field. • Named District 17-4A Defensive Player of the Year and honorable men on all-district on the hardwood as a junior. • Son of Nick Sanders and Whitney Clark. • Father was an all-conference defensive back at TCU. • Born March 28, 2007. THEY SAID IT On3 director of scou ng and rankings Charles Power: "Jayden is a smooth corner. He has good size and good ball skills. He's a two- way player, and his ball skills transfer over really well to corner. He made some fantas c catches and intercep ons as a junior. He's younger for the class, and a guy whose best football is certainly ahead of him. He's a 6-foot high jumper in track. So, there are a lot of posi ve indicators about Jayden. He's one who is just scratching the surface of his poten al. If you're a star ng corner at Michigan, you're on track to be a dra pick. I think that's the track he is on. He certainly has that upside." JAYDEN SANDERS CORNERBACK 6-1 • 181 KILGORE HIGH KILGORE, TEXAS RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 175 26 28 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 226 25 34 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 128 17 26 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 244 26 37 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 13 61 INDUSTRY 2025 Projection Sanders will likely redshirt as a freshman — he s ll needs a couple of years to develop. While he has a high ceiling, he's also raw from a technical standpoint. Sanders is a tall, long corner that fits the mold of the type of corner that usually excels at Michigan and in the Big Ten. He has plus length and athle cism. While he needs me to develop, Sanders has the skill set to be a mul -year starter and the frame to add some really good weight.