IT’S MICHIGAN! | Kilgore’s Sanders announces verbal commitment to Wolverines (w/VIDEO)
Kilgore senior defensive back Jayden Sanders played his recruitment announcement close to the vest.
In fact, it was SO close to the vest that even his own dad – Kilgore assistant and legendary former KHS standout Nick Sanders – didn’t know what Jayden was going to announce, even as little as 30 minutes before Jayden was handed the microphone.
“He’s keeping me in the dark,” the elder Sanders laughed. “Me! I don’t even know!”
At about 10 a.m. Saturday morning, though, at Kilgore’s practice facility, after the craziness that is photo day wrapped up, Jayden – flanked by dad Nick and mom Whitney, herself a former state track athlete – did announce where he would be headed after high school to continue his education and college football career.
That destination: the University of Michigan.
ETBlitz.com, which was on hand (of course; we’re based here), broke the story seconds after it was announced, and we thank the Kilgore Bulldog Football Facebook page for tagging us in its Facebook Live broadcast.
But Sanders’ announcement was also all over the internet by an hour later, included Sports Illustrated (2025 four-star CB Jayden Sanders commits to Michigan football (si.com)), 247 Sports (Top247 CB Jayden Sanders commits to Michigan (247sports.com)), and several Michigan fan sites.
Sanders had multiple offers from four-year colleges across the nation, but had three hats on the table at the announcement Saturday morning: Michigan, Oklahoma State and Baylor.
“I’d like to thank God for bringing me to this point, and for keeping me on track,” Sanders said. “I’d like to thank all my family and friends, for all the love and support since day one. I want to thank my past and present teammates for pushing me to be my best every day, and my coaches and teachers that all poured into me, and looked over me throughout the years.
“Huge thanks to the Kilgore community for all the love and support, and to the KHS football program. Last but not least, I want to thank all the college coaches and recruiting coordinators who built a relationship with me and my family throughout this process.
“With all that being said, I will be committing to…”
Sanders picked up the Michigan hat and put it on, to loud applause and cheers, including from dad and mom.
Shortly after the announcement, Sanders also slipped on a Michigan shirt.
The Wolverines won the 2023 national championship, beating Alabama in the national semifinal and then Washington in the national title game.
Michigan opens the 2024 season on Saturday, Aug. 31 at home against Fresno State, and then hosts Texas the following week, on Saturday, Sept. 7.
Sanders has had a big 2024 already. He was named the most valuable defensive player at the Texas State 7-on-7 Tournament in June.
He’s been named as one of the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine’s top 10 athletes in the state, and is listed as a preseason all-state pick in their Class 4A preview. He is on the DCTF Whataburger Preseason Super Team on defense.
Some of the programs that Jayden also had offers from were TCU (Nick’s alma mater), Texas Tech, Arizona State, Houston, SMU, Kansas, Kansas State, Michigan State, North Texas, Northwestern, UTEP, UT-SA, Tulsa, Texas State, and Arkansas State.
Sanders and the Bulldogs have a season to play, though. And it begins Friday night, Aug. 30 against Carthage. Both Kilgore and Carthage are ranked in the preseason top 10 in the state in Class 4A, in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football’s preseason poll.
