Announcement details for On3 five-star plus OT David Sanders Jr.

The On3 Industry’s No. 1 ranked offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. is still locked in to commit on Aug. 17.

The No. 2 prospect overall has the same finalists in Georgia, Nebraska, Ohio State and Tennessee.

Now the time is set. Sanders’ mother Samantha tells On3 the five-star plus prospect will announce at 12:30 local time from Charlotte (NC) Providence Day School.

Sanders is the reigning Gatorade State Player of the Year in North Carolina after helping Providence Day win another state championship.

The Vols are the On3 RPM favorite and got the last visit from Sanders the Saturday of July 27. He’s been to the Vols campus numerous times including five trips this calendar year which also included the spring game and the 865 Live Event and his official visit in June.

Sanders speaks on Tennessee

Tennessee has been on Sanders since he was in the eighth grade and he has called the game environment at Neyland the best he’s been in.

“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 Vols have On3’s No. 8 ranked recruiting class.

“I feel like you can go there, develop and be the first big-time offensive tackle to come out of Tennessee. They have everything you need to do to be successful there.”

Nebraska making a late charge

The nearly 6-foot-6, 276-pound Sanders returned to Nebraska on July 26. It was his second time in Lincoln. He took his official over Mother’s Day Weekend.

“Dylan (Raiola),” Sanders said when asked what Nebraska did to get on his radar. “When they pulled the No. 1 player out of the 2024 class, they can get the No. 1 offensive tackle from the 2025 class to protect him. If you have a high-caliber quarterback like that, you need somebody that’s going to protect him. I feel like he’s done a great job, even when he was committed at Georgia.

“That’s one of the main reasons I took that visit because he did such a good job building that relationship with me and letting me know ‘I need you to come block for me.’ His tune never changed when he committed to Nebraska.”

Raiola continues to lead the charge in recruiting Sanders.

“He was like, ‘Bro, I’m just at a different school. I’m still the same person.’ If he says all these great things about the University of Nebraska, I think it’s definitely worth a visit.”

The Huskers have On3’s No. 25 ranked recruiting class.

Ohio State has made its case

Sanders has been to Ohio State several times this year as well. The Buckeyes are the No. 2 team on the On3 RPM and the family remains in regular contact with the staff. His official visit included a lot of time showing him a path to be top draft pick while also having everything he needs to maximize his potential in the sports medicine arena as Sanders wants to be an orthopedic surgeon.

“Obviously they’re known for making great offensive tackles,” Sanders has said. “Seeing that as a young kid, like I can go there and do the same thing. Ohio State got the bump early because I had only been there one time until recently. Ohio State is different, but they’ve done a phenomenal job, coming up there for the spring a couple of times and being around that program.

Offensive line coach Justin Frye is the lead recruiter.

“I just think Coach Frye is an amazing offensive line coach, he’s shown that he can develop guys and push them to the next level. He’s very passionate in everything that he’s doing … I feel like his coaching style and my playing style can mesh really good.”

Ohio State has On3’s No. 1 ranked recruiting class.

Georgia has been in it since the beginning

Georgia has been a long-time favorite for Sanders who took a couple more visits to Athens this year including the Kirby Smart Scavenger Hunt and his official visit.

“Georgia is Georgia,” Sanders has said. “You want to go there, go to the NFL, that’s the place to go.”

Sanders feels close with Smart and offensive line coach Stacy Searels.

“Coach Smart has done a great job, me and Coach Searels have a great relationship, he’s been recruiting me since he was at UNC so me and him go way back.”

Sanders likes the fast development and feels close to other recruits UGA has landed.

“I think they’re doing a great job with the guys that they brought in in that 2024 class,” he said. “Mason Short coming in to Georgia and that’s one of my really good friends in this whole entire recruitment process. So Georgia’s done a great job, they were one of my early offers, my 10th offer as a freshman, so they’ve been on me really early, so Georgia’s always been at the top of the list.”

The Bulldogs have On3’s No. 4 ranked recruiting class.