The nation's No. 1 OT David Sanders Jr. commits to Tennessee

The On3 Industry’s top-ranked offensive tackle in Charlotte (NC) Providence Day School five-star plus David Sanders Jr. announced his commitment to Tennessee on Saturday afternoon during a ceremony at his school.

The nation’s No. 4 prospect overall chose to play for head coach Josh Heupel and the Vols over his other finalists in Ohio State, Nebraska and Georgia.

After playing both ways in helping lead Providence Day School to another state championship, the nearly 6-foot-7, 285-pound Sanders earned North Carolina Gatorade State Player of the Year honors. He becomes the jewel of this 2025 Tennessee recruiting class that could ultimately finish in the On3 Industry top five alongside touted quarterback George MacIntyre and fellow offensive lineman Douglas Utu. 

“This process has been a blessing and I’m so grateful to every school that considered and recruited me,” Sanders said in a statement through his agency WME Sports that was released to On3’s Pete Nakos. “There are so many things to weigh when it comes to making a decision like this, but what it came down to for me, and what was most important above everything else, was that I’d end up somewhere where I truly felt like family. 

“I’m making my commitment because the school felt like home.” 

Tennessee was on Sanders very early

Sanders was recruited by Tennessee going back to the eighth grade. In the past he’s pointed to the opportunity to play as a true freshman in Knoxville. Led by offensive line coach Glen Elarbee, no program was more consistent in pushing for Sanders than the Vols.

“At Tennessee you have the opportunity to come in and make a difference as a freshman,” Sanders has said in the past. “I love the coaching staff there from Coach Heupel on down. Coach Elarbee is a great guy.”

Sanders has said the atmosphere inside Neyland Stadium on game day is second to none and he visited campus five more times this calendar year including the spring game, the 865 Live Event and for his last trip of the process at the end of July.

“I just love Tennessee’s coaching staff,” Sanders said in May at the On3 Elite Series in Nashville. “Coach Heupel and Coach 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 added and be the best version of yourself.

“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.”

Why this is a huge pickup

With Sanders now committed, Tennessee holds verbals from one of the most sought-after quarterbacks in the country in MacIntyre and their franchise left tackle in Sanders. Paired with Utu, that’s about as strong a tackle-guard combination as any program is on track to sign in 2025.

Sanders high school coach Chad Grier is one of the best in the country and has always raved about his five-star left tackle.

“David is an exceptional young man and a model student-athlete,” Grier said when Sanders won the Gatorade Player of the Year Award. “He’s also the most gifted players I’ve ever coached. He can dominate on both sides of the ball and is always a threat to block a kick. When we turn him loose, he’s an unstoppable force and fun to watch. He also has authentic charisma and leadership skills on the field that naturally influences teammates to follow his example. But it’s his ability to remain humble, grounded, hardworking and team-first that truly separates him.”

On3 Director of Scouting Charles Power says Sanders will be a mainstay on the blindside for Heupel.

“He has the look of a left tackle of the future for Tennessee,” Power said. “I see him as a mult-year starter. 

Power compares Sanders game to that of Terron Armstead and DJ Humphries.

“He projects as a high-end pass blocker. He has outstanding twitch and ability to redirect within his pass set and has continued to get bigger and stronger over the course of last year. He’s added 25 pounds from his junior going into senior year.

“He is a massive get for Tennessee and is one who I think is going to pay dividends on the field throughout his career in Knoxville.”