C. J. Sanders facts for kids

C. J. Sanders, born on September 18, 1996, is an American football player. He plays as a wide receiver. Before becoming a college football star, C. J. was a child actor. He appeared in several movies and TV shows.

High School Football Career

C. J. Sanders started his high school football journey at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tennessee. He played there for three seasons. Later, his family moved to California. For his final year of high school, he transferred to Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California.

During his senior year, C. J. was a fantastic player. He caught 35 passes for 562 yards and scored eight touchdowns. He also ran with the ball 41 times, gaining 437 yards and scoring nine touchdowns. On special teams, he was amazing, scoring four more touchdowns. Two of these were from kickoff returns, and two were from punt returns.

Experts at Rivals.com thought C. J. was a top player. They considered him one of the best wide receiver prospects in his class. He decided to accept a scholarship to play college football at the University of Notre Dame.

Acting Roles and Awards

Before his football career, C. J. Sanders was a talented child actor. One of his most famous roles was playing a young Ray Charles in the movie Ray. He also appeared in the TV show Six Feet Under. In that show, he played a character named Anthony Charles-Fisher. C. J. also acted in the movie First Sunday, where he played Ice Cube's son, Durell, Jr.

C. J. was nominated for several awards because of his great acting in the movie Ray. These nominations included a Black Reel Award and an NAACP Image Award. He also appeared as a guest star in other TV shows. These included Judging Amy, Cold Case, Grey's Anatomy, and Saved.

College Football Journey

Freshman Year Highlights

When C. J. started at Notre Dame, he quickly stood out. He was named the main punt returner for the team in 2015. Later, he also took on the role of kick returner.

C. J. became a key player on special teams. In a game against UMass, he returned a punt 50 yards for a touchdown. This was only his fourth college game. Later that season, he returned a kickoff 93 yards for another touchdown against Stanford.

Family and Community Work

C. J. comes from a family of athletes. His father, Chris Sanders, was a wide receiver in the NFL. His stepfather, Corey Harris, was a safety who played 12 seasons in the NFL. C. J.'s mom, Stacie McCall Harris, was a point guard for the University of Michigan basketball team.

C. J. also has his own non-profit organization. It is called CJ's Gift Foundation. This foundation helps young people and their families. Its goal is to make sure everyone feels good about themselves. It also tries to help families who might not get many chances to improve their lives. The foundation wants to bring positive change and hope to these families.

See also

In Spanish: C. J. Sanders para niños