Signed: CJ Sanders
Sherman Oaks (Calif.) Notre Dame wide receiver CJ Sanders submitted his letter of intent to Notre Dame on Wednesday.
Rivals ranks the 5-9, 185-pounder as a four-star prospect, the No. 46 player in the talent-laden state of California and the No. 37 wide receiver in the nation.
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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 ability. 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 Sanders 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 reception) and eight touchdowns, carried 41 times for 437 yards (10.7 yards per rush) and nine touchdowns, and returned two kickoffs and two punts for scores.
• At Brentwood Academy during his junior year, notched 52 receptions for 738 yards (14.2 yards per catch) and 12 touchdowns, and also scored one kick return and one rushing touchdown.
• Caught 24 passes for 403 yards (16.8 yards per reception) and four scores as a sophomore, and scored five other touchdowns either on rushing plays or returns.
Honors
• Played for West team in Semper Fidelis All-American Game Jan. 4 in Carson, Calif. Started the game and received extensive playing time, but registered just one catch for one yard in a 24-3 defeat.
• Named first-team All-Mission League his senior season at Notre Dame High.
Recruitment
• Gave his verbal commitment to Notre Dame on May 6, 2014, four days after his first unofficial visit to the campus. Among the schools which had already offered and he was interested in were Duke, Ohio State, Stanford, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and USC.
• Primarily recruited by Irish tight ends coach/special teams coordinator Scott Booker and secondarily recruited by offensive line coach Harry Hiestand.
• Took his lone official visit to Notre Dame for the Michigan game on Sept. 6, 2014.
Notable
• Born on Sept. 18, 1996.
• Owns a 3.7 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale and, as an offshoot to his former childhood acting days — he played a young Ray Charles in the movie "Ray" — he plans to pursue a career in broadcasting.
• As a junior at Brentwood Academy, won Tennessee's Division II state title in the 100 meters (10.76) and 200 meters (21.88), and also anchored two second-place finishes in sprint relays. In his sophomore year, he finished second in both the 100 meters and 200 meters in the state meet. He was timed at 10.64 in the 100 and 21.70 in the 200.
2015 Projection
• Playing time at slot might be limited with the return of fifth-year senior Amir Carlisle and senior C.J. Prosise, but with his game-breaking speed he could be the favorite to land the starting role as a punt returner (last year's top man Cody Riggs has graduated) or kick returner.
They Said It
Rivals West Coast recruiting analyst Adam Gorney: "When I saw him, he was most useful as a return specialist. Their offense didn't get him the ball much as a wide receiver, but as a returner he was very dynamic. I saw him return a punt for a touchdown against Jserra, which isn't easy to do.
"He has got a lot of athleticism and a lot of speed, and he's undersized, which makes him tough to tackle. As a slot receiver, he's also very good. He runs fast routes and if you can get the ball to him in space, he's going to pick up yards down the field for you. He's a guy that can come in motion and run a jet sweep. Any kind of designed play where there is going to be space plays to his strengths.
"Because of his size, blocking is going to be an issue. He's not a guy that you're going to run to his side and he's going to be down the field blocking and moving corners and safeties out. But that's the only real issue. His speed is great, his hands are great and he's a smart kid that knows what's going on."
Prep Football Report's Tom Lemming: "He's the fastest of all of the recruits. He's a legit 10.6 100-meter guy. He's 5-8, 5-9 only, but he's what Notre Dame needs. They have a lot of these big, sure-handed receivers, but he can be a slot guy who can stretch the defense a little bit, which is what I think Notre Dame really needs on offense.
"He hasn't dominated like he should with that kind of speed, in Tennessee or California. He's averaging about 15 yards a catch, but in high school with his kind of speed you should be averaging at least 20 yards a catch."
Film
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