Aug 172 min read

Volunteers Secure Commitment From Best OT in the 2025 Cycle

The Tennessee Volunteers and head coach Josh Heupel received a massive commitment from a consensus five-star recruit in the 2025 cycle. David Sanders Jr., a 6-foot-6, 290-pound offensive tackle pledged to play at Rocky Top. He is rated the No.1 offensive tackle in the 2025 recruiting class.

According to On3, Sanders chose the Volunteers over the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Georgia Bulldogs and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Sanders based his decision on factors that include the beauty of the Knoxville, Tenn. campus, his connections to Heupel and offensive line coach Glenn Elarbee and the environment of the Volunteers program.

Sanders in High School

Sanders attends high school in Charlotte, N.C., at Providence Day School. Throughout his high school career, he consistently gets to the second level, pancaking defenders. He dominates opponents in the run game and helps his offense move the ball down the field. In addition to football, he plays basketball and has starred in track and field as a discus thrower and shot-putter.

Andrew Ivins the director of scouting at 247Sports offered the following breakdown of Sanders: "Gifted athlete with a chance to emerge as a franchise corner protector with his foot quickness and reactionary skills. Two-way player as a junior [who] was named North Carolina's Gatorade Player of the Year after he kept the jersey clean of heralded quarterback recruit Jadyn Davis while adding 32 pressures and seven sacks on defense. Tends to explode out of his stance and constantly plays with a sense of urgency as he is always looking for work."

He is regarded as one of the "top overall talents in the 2025 cycle" and has the potential to become a first-round NFL draft pick.

Volunteers 2025 Recruiting Class

Sanders joins an already packed recruiting class that the Volunteers have assembled for the 2025 season. According to 247Sports, the Volunteers 2025 recruiting class ranks No. 6 in the nation and has 22 total commits. The Vols' 2025 class has two five-star recruits, including Sanders, and 11 four-stars.

Sanders has already inked an NIL deal valued at $979,000.

Stay tuned to College Football Dawgs for continued reporting on the Tennessee Volunteers throughout the season.