SANDERS CELEBRATED | Recognized as member of Whataburger Super Team (on his birthday!; W/VIDEO)
Friday was a huge day for Jayden Sanders. And not just because it was his birthday.
Sanders was joined by his family, friends, teammates, coaches, and members of the community – a large crowd – at Whataburger in Kilgore on Friday afternoon, as he was honored as a member of the Dave Campbell’s Texas Football 2024 Whataburger Super Team.
The team was voted on by fans, around 300,000 of them, and is only 40 players from around the state.
Sanders, a defensive back and wide receiver for Kilgore High School who also plays other sports, is on his way to the University of Michigan, where he’ll likely play DB for the Wolverines, as well, as he’s getting his education. He signed with Michigan in December after verbally committing to them prior to the season starting in late August.
Dede Dean of DCTF was on hand, and made a presentation to Sanders. Representatives from DKT Investments / Whataburger, including managing partner Jack Moore, was one of Sanders’ well-wishers, as was former KHS head football coach and athletic director Mike Vallery, who coached Sanders’ dad, Nick Sanders, the Bulldogs’ defensive back that blocked a kick for the winning touchdown in the 2004 state championship game.
Sanders’ parents Nick Sanders and Whitney Clark, and Tara Sanders, all welcomed family and coaches, a very large group for an assembly of about 30 minutes.
Jayden Sanders finished his final year at KHS with 43 tackles, three interceptions and 14 pass break-ups as a defensive back, and on offense, had 54 catches for 958 yards and 12 touchdowns.
There are a few other members of the Whataburger Super Team from East Texas, but not many: Carthage offensive lineman Kash Courtney, Longview linebacker Brenden Reese, Pleasant Grove defensive lineman Lance Jackson, and Jefferson running back Kamran Williams.
Here you go, the entire 2024 Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Whataburger Super Team.
Offense
Quarterback Adam Schobel, Columbus; quarterback Keelon Russell, Duncanville; running back Deondrae Riden, DeSoto; running back Kamran Williams, Jefferson; running back J.J. Flores, Edinburg Vela; wide receiver / tight end Dakorien Moore, Duncanville; wide receiver / tight end Andrew Marsh, Katy Jordan; wide receiver / tight end Kaliq Lockett, Sachse; wide receiver / tight end Preztynn Harrison, Mineral Wells; offensive lineman Lamont Rogers, Mesquite Horn; offensive lineman Connor Carty, Prosper; offensive lineman Kash Courtney, Carthage; offensive lineman Ty Haywood, Denton Ryan; offensive lineman Jackson Christian, Port Neches-Groves; offensive ilneman Michael Fasusi, Lewisville; kicker Diego Frausto, El Paso Del Valle; kicker Cade Whitehead, Stephenville.
Defense
Defensive lineman Vakapuna Foketi, A&M Consolidated; lineman Lance Jackson, Pleasant Grove; lineman Keylan Abrams, DeSoto; lineman Chad Woodfork, Humble Summer Creek; linebacker Riley Pettijohn, McKinney; linebacker Jonathan Cunningham, North Crowley; linebacker Elliott Schaper, Austin Westlake; linebacker Brenden Reese, Longview; defensive back Jayden Sanders, Kilgore; defensive back Cobey Sellers, Alvin Shadow Creek; defensive back Devin Sanchez, Galena Park North Shore; defensive back Dorian Brew, Conroe; defensive back Colin Peacock, Gunter; punter Noah Lopez, Round Rock Stony Point.
Utility
Michael Terry III, San Antonio Alamo Heights; Cardea Collier, Alvarado; Chris Jimerson Jr., North Crowley; Jakoby Dixon, Brenham; Michael Riles, Port Arthur Memorial; Jayden Shelton, South Oak Cliff; Leo Almanza, Byron Nelson; and Tyson Deen, San Antonio Southwest.
Incidentally, Whataburger is one of ETBlitz.com’s advertising partners and we are so proud of that. Each week, we name a boy and a girl athlete as our Whataburger / ETBlitz.com Players of the Week, dating back to January, 2024.
Whataburger was founded by Harmon Dodson in 1950 and now has just under 1,100 restaurants in 16 states, and over 700 here in Texas, including many in East Texas. They’re open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and you might say their food is a hit: they have a systemwide revenue of over $4 billion annually.
Check them out online to see their great menu: Whataburger.com.
Or you can download their app on iOS or Android.
Congratulations, Jayden (and happy birthday), and congratulations to all the young men who made the 2024 DCTF / Whataburger Super Team.
