Steve Sarkisian shares Ja’Tavion Sanders will play vs. Oklahoma, Ryan Watts a game-time decision

Texas will have a key playmaker available for its showdown with Oklahoma this weekend, with coach Steve Sarkisian revealing tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders will be ready to play after suffering an ankle injury last week.

Sarkisian also updated the status of cornerback Ryan Watts.

“JT looks great, he’ll be good to go Saturday,” Sarkisian said Thursday. “I think Ryan’s going to be a game-time decision.”

Sanders was injured when he was landed on in a pile and his lower body caught the worst of it. He came up with an ankle injury and limped off the field in visible pain. He eventually headed to the locker room.

That he’ll be available to play is a huge boost to Texas. He’s one of the nation’s best tight ends. So far this season Sanders has accounted for 13 catches for 278 yards and a touchdown.

Watts seems like less of a sure thing to play on Saturday. He was hurt in the later stages of last week’s game against Kansas.

On the year Watts has logged 17 tackles, a tackle for a loss and a pass breakup.

Intensity of Oklahoma-Texas is no joke

It’s hard to describe to the average person how intense a game like Oklahoma-Texas is, but a guy like Ja’Tavion Sanders needs no introduction. He’s seen it firsthand.

One of the things that will fuel him, Sarkisian and the entire Texas outfit is the hate the rivalry brings out.

“We embrace it because they’re supposed to hate us,” Sarkisian said. “At the end of the day, this is a great rivalry. And I don’t think that there is a whole lot of love lost between the fan bases, between the ex-players, the ex-coaches. There’s a lot of crossover from both rosters of players that have played together in high school or against each other in high school.

“The coaching staffs have competed against each other, maybe not at these two institutions but at different places. So, in the end, it is what it is. We’re trying to compete for a Big 12 championship, and so are they. And so it’s gonna take our best effort not only physically but, I think, mentally to be sharp Saturday.”

The two programs will meet at noon ET on Saturday with a broadcast on ABC.

The post Steve Sarkisian shares Ja’Tavion Sanders will play vs. Oklahoma, Ryan Watts a game-time decision appeared first on On3.