CJ SANDERS
Granada Hills, CA
Measurables: 5'9", 177
Accolades: First-team Los Angeles Daily News All-Area, Semper Fidelis All-American, first-team All-Mission League, Finalist for SPARQ championship at The Opening, 2nd place in 100m and 200m in Tennessee D-II in 2012, winner in 2013.
Other Impressive Offers: Georgia, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, UCLA, USC, Stanford
Projected Position: Wide Receiver
Quick Take: You want a prototype slot receiver? Sanders is your man. A lightning quick receiver with special teams return value, Sanders enters a slot receiver depth chart that finally looks like the one Brian Kelly has wanted since arriving in South Bend.
He’ll jump into one of the most competitive depth charts on the roster, but Sanders is a smooth athlete who has track speed and true football skills.
What he means to the Irish: Outside of adding a 5-star recruit to the Notre Dame film and television department (Sanders play a young Ray Charles in the film Ray and has had numerous supporting roles in various films and television shows), Sanders adds another playmaking threat to the offense.
He’ll push both CJ Prosise and Amir Carlisle, with a natural football IQ that’ll allow him to compete immediately, even if playing time isn’t necessarily there.
Obligatory YouTube clip: Here’s a highlight reel from Sanders’ lone season at Notre Dame in Sherman Oaks, California. He spent the first three years of his career at Brentwood Academy in Nashville. His special teams value is on display early.
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