Rutgers football added four-star prospect Kaj Sanders to their 2024 roster last weekend, making him the highest-rated commit for Greg Schiano in the Class of 2024. The New Jersey native from Bergen Catholic (Oradell, New Jersey) elected to stay home, choosing Rutgers over North Carolina, South Carolina, and Wisconsin.
The 6-foot-1 defensive back helped the Crusaders win back-to-back state titles, recording 40 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, and six pass deflections in his junior season. During his sophomore and junior season, Sanders was a two-way player, logging 32 rushes for 261 yards on 8.2 yards per carry and three touchdowns.
According to Rivals, Sanders is a top five player in the state and the No. 30 safety in the nation.
Film Breakdown
Below are Sanders’s athletic stats according to Hudl.com
| 40 Yard Dash | Bench Press | 185 LBS Bench Press (Reps) | Squats (lbs) |
| 4.5 Seconds | 250 lbs | 17 | 375 lbs |
Watching his junior season highlights, you can see Sanders plays with elite speed and athleticism. He has excellent ball instincts and will be the perfect piece for Rutgers defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak.
Harasymiak can have Sanders play the rover position as a defensive back, with the ability to roam freely in the middle of the field. He can bait opposing quarterbacks into poor decisions while rolling down to linebacker depth to support the run defense. Harasymiak can create pressure packages on third downs, trying to have Sanders play havoc in the secondary.
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Sanders’s ability to rally to the football and quick decision-making will allow him to shoot up the depth chart when he reports to campus in 2024. His strength and physicality will be a solid addition to the Scarlet Knights’ defense.
The commitment of Sanders allows Harasymiak and Schiano to move their defensive scheme from a 4-3 to a 3-4, or 3-3-5, showing off Sanders’s coverage skills. Moving to a 3-4 or 3-3-5 would mean more 1-on-1 situations for opposing offenses, allowing Sanders to roam in Rutgers’ secondary.
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