At his NFL Draft Watch Party, Sanders is surrounded by family and friends who saw him receive a phone call which will change the course of his athletic career.
BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. β The draft profile of former Gamecock defensive lineman TJ Sanders suggested he would be a second round selection in the NFL Draft and that profile proved to be accurate.
Sanders was taken with the ninth pick of the second round and 41st overall selection by the Buffalo Bills. He heads to the Northeast after an outstanding career at South Carolina where he developed into a force on the defensive line.
The former standout at Marion High School spent four seasons in the Carolina program. After redshirting in 2021, Sanders would go on to play in 37 games, starting seven games in 2023 and nine for his redshirt junior season of 2024 which was highlighted by him earning Second Team All-SEC recognition from the Associated Press. Β Sanders finished fifth on the squad and led the defensive lineman with 50 tackles including 7.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks.
There were a total of three former Gamecocks taken in the second round as linebacker Demetrius Knight, Jr. was taken with the 17th pick of the second round and the 49th overall selection by the Bengals.
In the third round, Hammond product and edge rusher Jordan Burch, who started his career at South Carolina before transferring to Oregon, was taken with the 14th pick of the round and the 78th overall selection by the Arizona Cardinals.Β
