Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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2015 RECRUITING ISSUE grateful, smart, athletic, respectful." Growing up in a fast-paced envi- ronment hastened his maturity and humility. "Ever since the age of 6, people treated me like I was an adult on the set," Sanders said. "Just the demand to play a role made me mature fast. I'm thankful I did that because it pre- pared me in a way for football. "In acting, you have to be prepared and rehearse, and it's like studying a playbook, knowing a role and being mentally ready for a game." Now retired from acting to con- centrate on football, Sanders moved back to California his senior year to train with his stepfather. "I have a sister who is 5 who is also in acting, and that's about the time I got started, so we moved back," he said. "I've been training with my step dad since I was 12. He has the cutting edge technology to make me the best I can be with all the drills we do. "I'm just blessed to have him. A lot of guys, they don't have that experi- ence of being with someone who's been through it. He's top notch." Supremely confident in front of a camera, Sanders plans to pursue a career in broadcasting after the com- pletion of his football career. He decided on attending Notre Dame last May rather than opt for the glitz and glamour found in Cali- fornia. "Notre Dame is a perfect fit for me in everything I stand for as a man," said Sanders, who notes that his grade-point average is in the 3.7 range on a 4.0 scale. "I take my aca- demics seriously, and I want to be known as more than just an athlete. That's what drives me to excel in the classroom. "Seeing the quality of people at Notre Dame, there were no egos. You go to some schools, and they think they're better people. At Notre Dame, I felt at home and I loved it." It also provides another grand stage to shine. ✦ CJ SANDERS WIDE RECEIVER 5-10 • 185 NOTRE DAME H.S. GRANADA HILLS, CALIF. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 37 46 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 53 42 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 222 24 34 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 268 34 35 MEASURABLES • Last summer at the prestigious The Opening in Beaverton, Ore., he placed eighth nationally in the SPARQ (Speed, Power, Agility, Reaction and Quickness) testing of overall athletic abil- ity. He ran a 4.32 40-yard dash, finished the shuttle drill in 3.78 seconds, posted a 38.6-inch vertical jump and threw the power ball 39 feet. Reaching a 130 score is considered elite, and he posted a 139.26. STATISTICS • After transferring from Nashville (Tenn.) Brentwood Academy to Sherman Oaks (Calif.) Notre Dame (6-4) for his senior year, totaled 35 catches for 562 yards (16.1 yards per recep- tion) and eight touchdowns, carried 41 times