Decision Day Primer: No. 1 OT David Sanders Jr. set to commit

The smile that radiates off of the On3 Industry’s No. 1 ranked offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. is just as contagious to college football coaches as the film of his they’ve evaluated.

Only one staff will be grinning on Saturday. 

It’s finally decision day for the Charlotte (NC) Providence Day School five-star plus recruit The finalists are Georgia, Nebraska, Ohio State and Tennessee. The time is set for 1:15 ET. 

Ranked as the country’s No. 4 prospect overall, Sanders was one of the most coveted prospects in the 2025 cycle. Defending National Champion Michigan was first to offer. Clemson gave him their prestigious first scholarship of the cycle. At one point Nick Saban and Alabama were heavily involved. But the blue-chipper settled on these four.

Checkered Orange are in a good spot to land Sanders

Josh Heupel and the Vols are trending as they aim to add to a recruiting class currently ranked No. 9 nationally.

“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.”

Sanders visited Knoxville five times this calendar year including his final stop of the process at the end of July.

“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.”

Tennessee has never finished with a Top 10 class in the On3 era that dates back to 2017. The could go top five this cycle. Sanders would obviously be a big part.

Big Ten programs give chase

Ohio State at the very least gave Sanders plenty to think about over the course of three visits this year. The Buckeyes would love to add him to a class ranked No. 1.

“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.”

Nebraska made a late charge with two visits this year and a source says they’ll try to make one more push later in the year if Sanders doesn’t choose them the first time around.

“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.”

Georgia was one of the favorites early for Sanders but faded as the process went on.

On3’s scouting report on Sanders

In addition to the talent, Sanders has a lot of toughness. Sanders played through a shoulder injury last fall to help Providence Day win another state championship.

“David Sanders Jr. has an elite combination of athleticism and play strength at the offensive tackle position,” On3 Director of Scouting Charles Power said. “He’s a guy we’ve known about for some time being dubbed and ranked as a high end national recruit for the majority of the cycle and has continued to impress and improve throughout his high school career.”