Tennessee trending heavily for nation's No. 1 OT David Sanders

Charlotte (N.C.) Providece Day Five-Star Plus+ offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. has been arguably Tennessee’s top target for the entirety of the 2025 recruiting cycle.

It’s a relationship and a recruitment that dates back nearly four years as the Vols recruited him beginning in eighth grade season. Ohio State, Nebraska and Georgia round his top four, but in recent months, the focus has largely been on the Buckeyes, Vols and Huskers.

Sanders visited Rocky Top and Lincoln at the end of July, as the Huskers and their NIL collective turned up the heat on him in a major way. But a week out from his decision date on August 17, Sanders is trending heavily to the Volunteers, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine (RPM).

That comes after expert predictions from On3 national writers Chad Simmons and Steve Wiltfong, as well as a pick from Nebraska insider Sean Callahan.

“Sanders relationship with the Tennessee’s current commits is the best of his finalists,” Wiltfong wrote in explaining his pick. “The time spent around the coaching staff, he feels he can be developed by position coach Glen Elarbee similar to that of Darnell Wright.

… The Vols have On3’s No. 9 ranked recruiting class. They got the last visit from Sanders. He’ll continue to talk with Ohio State and Nebraska leading into the decision but with what Tennessee offers on the field, the proximity to home and the resources poured in from all around, they’re going to be tough to beat.”

Sanders has raved about Vols in the past

Since his recruitment has really started taking shape in the past six months or so, Sanders has been tight-lipped about which team was in the lead for him. But on numerous occasions, he has spoken very highly of the Vols and what he thinks he can do in Knoxville.

“I just love Tennessee’s coaching staff,” Sanders said in May at the On3 Elite Series in Nashville. “Coach (Josh) Heupel and Coach (Glen) Elarbee, they do a great job with that personal connection. I think out of anybody, they do the best job calling, texting, just staying in contact with my parents and building that relationship.

… I just feel like you can be yourself at Tennessee. There’s nothing you have to do differently. Even though it’s a big SEC school that wins a lot of games and is in contention for winning National Championships year in and year out, that’s a place you can go and freely be yourself.”

The Five-Star Plus+ prospect will announce at 12:30pm ET from Charlotte (NC) Providence Day School on August 17.