Five-Star Plus+ OT David Sanders Jr. reaffirms Tennessee commitment, signs with Volunteers

Despite not officially putting pen to paper on National Signing Day, Charlotte Providence Day Five-Star Plus+ offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. has signed with Tennessee, he announced on The Paul Finebaum Show.

The 6-foot-5, 275-pounder is the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2025 class, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Sanders also ranks as both the nation’s No. 1 offensive tackle and the No. 1 recruit in North Carolina.

“Tennessee has been in it from the very beginning. They offered me as a freshman in high school and they’ve been kind of on me every year since then — expressing to me that I was a priority in their class and a must-get for the class of 2025,” Sanders told Finebaum about his decision.

“Coach Heupel has expressed to me many times that I’m the leader of this class and he wants me to come in and really lead them along with out quarterback and the other recruits that we have as well. Tennessee did a great job recruiting me. The recruiting class they have coming in, I feel like we have a great mix of guys. We have a great quarterback, great receivers, a good defensive corps and other offensive linemen as well along with myself.”

He headlines a Vols class that currently ranks among the top 10 nationally in the On3 Industry Team Recruiting Rankings.

David Sanders Scouting Summary

On3 writes this of Sanders as a prospect:

“Twitchy, explosive jumbo athlete who has been one of the top offensive tackles for the entirety of the 2025 cycle. A two-way star for Providence Chrisitian in Charlotte as an offensive tackle and defensive lineman. Has a tall, lean frame, measuring in at 6-foot-5 ¾, 276 pounds with 33.5-inch arms and 9.5-inch hands at the On3 Elite Series prior to his senior season. Added over 25 pounds as a junior. Registers as a top athlete in the combine setting. Transfers that athleticism over to the field. An electric mover with considerable twitch. Explodes to the second level and moves effortlessly in space. Played much stronger than his lighter weight would suggest as a junior. Has developed upper body and core strength to plant defenders into the ground.

…Flashes some dominant tendencies as a drive blocker and finisher when engaged. Runs his feet on contact. Relatively advanced technically. Held his own against blue-chip prospects as a junior. Also shows off his athleticism as a defensive lineman. Would be an easy Power 4 prospect on that side of the ball. Displays his functional strength in track and field, where he’s a standout in the shot put, breaking the school record with a 53-3.5 feet throw as a sophomore. Will need to continue adding mass and show he can maintain his top shelf athleticism and hold the weight well within his leaner, streamline frame.”