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Star Texas tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders told ESPN he is leaving school early to enter the NFL draft.

Sanders is the No. 2 tight end in ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.’s rankings.

“It’s been a childhood dream to play college football and get to the NFL,” Sanders said in a phone interview Saturday. “It’s just a blessing to be where I’m at today.”

Sanders had 45 catches for 682 yards and two touchdowns for Texas this year, ranking No. 3 in receiving yards among tight ends, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The junior didn’t drop a pass in the past 13 games, making him one of the draft’s most sure-handed pass-catchers.

He informed Texas coach Steve Sarkisian of his decision and said he received full support.

“After talking with my family and praying to God about it and thinking long and hard about it, this decision is what’s best for me and my family,” he said. “Coach Sark, he supported me in whatever I do. He wants [me to] be great in whatever I do.”

Sanders said he would like to prove in the pre-draft process that he is the top tight end. He said he expects to work out with Georgia‘s Brock Bowers, considered the top tight end in the draft, and looks forward to the opportunity to compete with him.

He touted his versatility at tight end, as Sanders said he can line up at any receiving spot or with his hand on the ground.

“I’m versatile. I can do it all,” he said.

Sanders said he models his game after Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

“When you look at his game, he slows the game down,” he said. “He understands coverages and fronts. That helps him run the best routes and get open for his quarterback.”

Sanders said he was appreciative of his family and his coaches at Texas, noting his appreciation for Sarkisian and tight ends coach Jeff Banks.

“I’m beyond grateful. To even get a chance to play at the University of Texas is just a blessing,” he said. “Going out and playing ultimately to get me where I am today, it’s a dream come true and a blessing.”

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QB Castellanos exits after losing BC starting job

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QB Castellanos exits after losing BC starting job

Boston College quarterback Thomas Castellanos, who lost his starting job earlier this week, will not be returning to the team, he announced Thursday night.

Castellanos, who started 12 games last season and retained the top job under new coach Bill O’Brien, wrote on X that “unfortunately, all good things come to an end, even though it’s sooner than I would like.” He did not mention the transfer portal in his departing message and has not officially entered it. The junior from Waycross, Georgia, started his career at UCF and appeared in five games in 2022.

O’Brien said Tuesday that Grayson James, who replaced Castellanos in last week’s win against Syracuse, will start Saturday when Boston College visits No. 14 SMU. Castellanos “wasn’t real thrilled” with the decision, O’Brien said, adding that the quarterback decided to step away from the team for several days.

Castellanos had 2,248 passing yards and 1,113 rushing yards last season under coach Jeff Hafley, passing for 15 touchdowns and adding 13 on the ground. He had 18 touchdown passes and only five interceptions this season, but his accuracy dipped in recent weeks, and he completed only 2 of 7 passes against Syracuse before being replaced.

In his statement, Castellanos thanked both coaching staffs he played for at Boston College and wrote that he had “some of the best experiences of my life in the Eagles Nest and I will truly cherish these memories forever.”

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Gators’ Lagway ‘ready to play,’ will start vs. LSU

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Gators' Lagway 'ready to play,' will start vs. LSU

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida quarterback DJ Lagway is “ready to play,” coach Billy Napier said Thursday on his weekly radio show.

Napier removed Lagway from the team’s injury report and penciled him in to start against No. 21 LSU in the Swamp on Saturday.

Lagway practiced every day this week while progressing from a strained left hamstring. The highly touted freshman was carted off the field against Georgia on Nov. 2. Tests revealed a “less significant” injury than initially feared, and now he’s back in time to face the Tigers.

The Gators (4-5, 2-4 Southeastern Conference) need him. They have to win two of their final three regular-season games to become bowl eligible.

LSU (6-3, 3-2) has struggled mightily against dual-threat QBs, including Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, who ran for 185 yards and four touchdowns last week.

Lagway returns after walk-on and Yale transfer Aidan Warner started in his place against Texas. Warner threw two interceptions and was 12-of-25 passing for 132 yards in a 49-17 loss.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Georgia leading rusher Etienne ruled out vs. Vols

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Georgia leading rusher Etienne ruled out vs. Vols

No. 12 Georgia will be without leading rusher Trevor Etienne for Saturday’s showdown against No. 7 Tennessee.

Etienne was downgraded from questionable to out on Thursday night’s SEC availability report.

Etienne left Georgia’s win over Florida with an upper-body injury on Nov. 2 and did not return. He played limited snaps in last week’s 28-10 loss at Ole Miss, carrying the ball six times for 24 yards.

Etienne leads the Bulldogs with 477 rushing yards and seven touchdowns this season.

The loss is another blow to Georgia’s banged-up backfield. Cash Jones is also listed as questionable while Branson Robinson remains out after missing the past three games with a knee injury.

That leaves true freshman Nate Frazier as the only healthy Bulldogs running back who has played meaningful snaps this year. Frazier is second on the team with 333 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

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