#3 C.J. Sanders 2016-17 Football Roster

SANDERS’ PLACE IN THE IRISH RECORD BOOKS

• Single-Game Kickoff Return Yards (Nov. 28, 2015 at Stanford, 182, 3rd)
• Single-Game Kickoff Returns (Oct. 15, 2015 vs. USC, 6, t-3rd)
• Single-Game Kickoff Returns (Nov. 28, 2015 at Stanford, 6, t-3rd)
• Single-Season Kickoff Return TDs (2016, 2, t-1st)
• Single-Season Punt/Kickoff Returns (2015, 53, 3rd)
• Single-Season Punt/Kickoff Return Yards (2016, 850, 4th)
• Single-Season Kickoff Return Yards (2016, 725, 5th)
• Single-Season Punt/Kickoff Return Yards (2015, 822, 6th)
• Single-Season Kickoff Returns (2016, 29, t-6th)
• Single-Season Kickoff Returns (2015, 28, 8th)
• Single-Season Kickoff Return Yards (2015, 640, 9th)
• Career Kickoff Returns (2015-, 57, 4th)
• Career Kickoff Return Yards (2015-, 1,365, 4th)
• Career Kickoff/Punt Return TDs (2015-, 4, 4th)
• Career Punt/Kickoff Returns (2015-, 92, 4th)
• Career Punt/Kickoff Return Yards (2015-, 1,672, 5th)

SANDERS’ CAREER HIGHS

• Points scored: 6, 6x, last vs. Army, Nov. 12, 2016
• Touchdowns: 1, 6x, last vs. Army, Nov. 12, 2016
• Rush attempts:2, Virginia Tech, Nov. 19, 2016
• Rush yards:12, Miami, Fla., Oct. 29, 2016
• Long rush:12, Miami, Fla., Oct. 29, 2016
• Receptions: 5, Nevada, Sept. 10, 2016
• Receiving yards:61, Duke, Sept. 24, 2016 (3 receptions)
• Receiving TDs:1, 2x, last Nevada, Sept. 10, 2016
• Long Reception: 34, Michigan State, Sept. 17, 2016
• Total offense attempts: 2, Virginia Tech, Nov. 19, 2016 (2 rush, 0 pass)
• Total offense yards: 12, Miami, Oct. 29, 2016 (12 rush, 0 pass)
• All-purpose yards:190, at Stanford, Nov. 28, 2015
• Punt returns: 4, at Virginia, Sept. 12, 2015
• Punt return yards: 63, vs. UMass, Sept. 26, 2015 (3 returns)
• Long punt return: 50, vs. UMass, Sept. 26, 2015
• Kick returns: 6, 2x, last at Stanford, Nov. 28, 2015
• Kick return yards: 182, at Stanford, Nov. 28, 2015 (6 returns)
• Long kick return: 93, at Stanford, Nov. 28, 2015

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2016)

• Appeared in all 12 games for the Irish and start seven contests
• Led the team in all-purpose yards with 1,165
• Racked up 182 total yards against Syracuse (Oct. 1)
• Had 61 receiving yards on just three catches against Duke (Sept. 24)
• Led the team in both punt returns and kick returns with 10 for 125 yards and 29 for 725 yards, respectively
• Opened the season at Texas with his best performance of 2016 with two punt returns for 51 yards
• Also had 75 yards on four kick returns at Texas (Sept. 4)
• Amassed 143 yards on just four kick returns for an average of 35.75 yards/return against Syracuse (Oct. 1)
• Scored a touchdown in his first two outings of the season, one against both Texas (Sept. 4) and Nevada (Sept. 10)

FRESHMAN SEASON (2015)

• Played in all 13 games as the primary punt and kickoff returner as well as a reserve slot receiver
• Returned 28 kickoffs for 640 yards (22.9 yards per return), including a 93-yard TD return at Stanford (Nov. 28)
• Returned 25 punts for 182 yards (7.3 yards per return), including a 50-yard TD return vs. UMass (Sept. 26)
• Recorded his only catch of the season against UMass (Sept. 26)
• His 53 combined kick and punt returns ranked as the third-most in single-season school history
• His 822 combined kick and punt return yards ranked as the fifthmost in single-season school history
• Registered 822 all-purpose yards, which ranked fourth on the team
• One of nine FBS players and the only freshman with a kick and punt return for TD in 2015
• Became the third player in Notre Dame history to return both a punt and a kickoff for a TD in the same season
• Returned a punt 50 yards for a momentum-swinging TD late in the first half against UMass (Sept. 26) — marked the first punt return for TD by an Irish freshman since 1973 and the first by a Notre Dame player of any class since 2009
• Took over as the primary kickoff returner at Clemson (Oct. 3), gaining 71 yards on two returns for a 35.5 yard average
• Registered 160 all-purpose yards with a 25-yard punt return and six kickoff returns for 135 yards against USC (Oct. 17)
• Returned six kickoffs at Stanford (Nov. 28) for 182 yards, including a 93-yard TD, Notre Dame’s first kickoff return TD since 2011
• The 182 kickoff return yards are third-best in Irish single-game history and the most since the 1989 where Raghib “Rocket” Ismail returned two kickoffs for TDs against Michigan (gaining 192 yards on the day)
• The 182 kickoff return yards were the third-most by any FBS freshman in 2015

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA

• First-team wide receiver on Los Angeles Daily News all-area squad for 2014
• Ranked 268th player nationally and 38th wide receiver on Scout 300 list
• Rated 22nd wide receiver nationally by 247Sports
• Rated 248th player nationally on Tom Lemming’s Top 300 list
• Made 38 receptions for 614 yards, eight touchdowns and 16.1-yards-per-catch average as senior in 2014 for Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California
• Rushed 41 times for 437 yards and nine TDs
• Had two punts returns for TDs and two kickoff returns for TDs in 2014
• Helped Notre Dame to 6-4 mark in 2014
• First-team all-Mission League pick as senior
• Scored five TDs in 70-43 win over Manhattan Beach Mira Costa in 2014–on runs of 18 and 13 yards, receptions of 48 and 20 yards plus a 92-yard kickoff return
• Previously attended Brentwood (Tennessee) Academy for three years
• Caught 24 passes for 403 yards and four TDs as sophomore in 2012 at Brentwood Academy
• Added four other TDs as sophomore on defense and on returns
• Earned second place in both the 100 (10.64 seconds) and 200 meters (21.70) in the 2012 Tennessee Division II state track meet as a sophomore, then won state titles in both those events as junior in 2013
• Had 52 receptions as junior at Brentwood Academy in 2013 for 738 yards and 12 TDs
• Played in Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Carson, California
• Has nine movie or television show acting credits to his name, including playing a young Ray Charles in the movie “Ray” when he was six
• Has appeared in television shows “Cold Case,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Judging Amy”
• Father Chris was three-year starter at flanker at Ohio State from 1992-94 and still holds Ohio State record in indoor long jump
• Chris played seven seasons in the NFL with the Houston Oilers/ Tennessee Titans, made 177 career receptions from 1995-2001 and now coaches high school football in Nashville area
• Mother played basketball at Michigan
• Stepfather is Corey Harris who played football at Vanderbilt, then 12 seasons (1992-2003) as defensive back (594 career tackles) in NFL with Houston, Green Bay, Seattle, Miami, Baltimore and Detroit and helped Baltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV following the 2000 season
• Enrolled in the Mendoza College of Business, majoring in management consulting