LUCK OF THE IRISH | Kilgore’s Sanders transferring to Notre Dame

Jayden Sanders has made his decision.

The former Kilgore High School football star, most recently a freshman at the University of Michigan, is headed to one of the nation’s most storied college football programs, the land of Knute Rockne, the Four Horsemen, Joe Montana and Lou Holtz, the current stomping grounds of coach Marcus Freeman, and the permanent home of Touchdown Jesus.

Sanders is transferring to Notre Dame, located in South Bend, Indiana.

Sanders made the announcement today at 1 p.m., and so did the university.

The former Ragin’ Red cornerback and wide receiver entered the transfer portal last week. He is the son of former Kilgore multi-sport athlete Whitney Clark and former Kilgore High and TCU defensive back Nick Sanders.

The younger Sanders, listed at 6-foot-1 and 193 pounds, made the decision after a coaching change for the Wolverines, with the departure of former coach Sharone Moore and his staff, and the off-the-field turmoil that in no way involved Jayden or the other Michigan players.

In the 2025 season, his first as a college player, he played in all 13 of the Wolverines’ games, including the Citrus Bowl in a loss to Texas. He finished the season with 23 total tackles on defense and a defended pass.

As ETBlitz.com mentioned in last week’s initial story about Sanders entering the transfer portal, Sanders is a Kilgore football legacy player like few other. His mom, Whitney Clark, was a multi-sport athlete at KHS, including a state track qualifier and cheerleader. His father, Nick Sanders, had a star-crossed career as a defensive back and wide receiver here at Kilgore – it was Nick Sanders who blocked the field goal attempt by Dallas Lincoln in Kilgore’s state title game win in 2004; the ball bounced back up into his hands and he went the distance for the game-winning touchdown. As a result, Kilgore claimed the 2004 UIL Class 4A, Division II state championship, and completed a 16-0 undefeated season. Nick continued his college career at TCU, and most recently had came home to be the Bulldogs’ defensive backs coac.

Jayden was one of the state of Texas’ most sought-after recruits out of KHS, in every recruiting service one could name. His commitment announcement was the first-ever at Kilgore’s indoor practice facility, just before the 2024 season, streamed live by ETBlitz.com and others on social media.

Sanders played his senior season on both sides of the football, helping the Ragin’ Red to the 2024 state championship game.

Notre Dame football, of course, is tradition-rich, having one 11 national championships and having had seven Heisman Trophy-winners. Coach Marcus Freeman, who rose to the position on the defensive side of the football, is 43-12 after four seasons as head coach.

The Fighting Irish lost just two games in 2025 by a combined four points: at Miami (27-24) on August 31, and at home against Texas A&M (41-40) on September 13. Ironically, both of those programs made the College Football Playoff and actually faced each other, with Miami, who will face Indiana in the upcoming national title game, moving on. It was the loss to Miami, the CFP playoff committee said, that ultimately kept Notre Dame out of the playoff.

Notre Dame finished the season with a 10-2 record, and opted out of playing in a bowl game.

The Irish, who play as an independent, open the 2026 season against Wisconsin on Sept. 6, in Green Bay. They do have a rematch with Miami on November 7, in South Bend.