2025 five-star OT David Sanders signs with WME Sports for NIL representation

The nation’s top-ranked offensive tackle in the class of 2025, David Sanders is not waiting on profiting off his NIL until college.

As a high school athlete in the state of North Carolina, he’s able to monetize his publicity rights. Because Sanders attends the Providence Day School in Charlotte, he follows the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association‘s NIL policy.

There’s been an ongoing battle in the state between the North Carolina High School Athletic Association and lawmakers. In light of the legislation, the NCHSAA advised high school athletes to avoid engaging in NIL deals and follow previously in place amateur guidelines.

The No. 5 recruit has now brought on WME Sports for NIL representation to help in navigating the space. WME developed into one of the power players in NIL, working with a number of stars including LSU’s Oliva Dunne, North Carolina’s Deja Kelly, Texas track and field’s Sam Hurley and UCLA softball’s Maya Brady.

The agency has worked with some football standouts, too, including Evan Stewart (Texas A&M) and Maason Smith (LSU).

Sanders will be hoping to help lead his Providence Day School team to a third consecutive state title on Friday night. With four-star Michigan quarterback commit Jadyn Davis, the 11-1 Chargers play at Rabun Gap (13-0) in Georgia for the state title on Friday night.

Latest on recruitment

The offensive tackle holds more than scholarship offers from the top programs in the country. Sanders has visited Alabama, Clemson, Florida State and Georgia this fall.

He’s now been to two Georgia games, as he watched the Bulldogs win over Tennessee a year ago. Offensive line coach Stacy Searels is leading Georgia’s recruitment, which is another advantage for the Bulldogs, given Searels has known Sanders dating back to his time as the offensive line coach at North Carolina.

“That’s my second game. I went to the Tennessee game last year. It was kind of hard to match that energy. But, every time I go it gets better and better,” Sanders told DawgsHQ’s Jeremy Johnson. “I love Georgia and the atmosphere that they have. It’s basically second to none.”

Sanders has yet to cut down his list of schools, however, Tennessee, Florida State, USC and Michigan all received visits over the summer.

Clemson still remains a dream school for the offensive tackle.

“I went to games when I was little because that was my dream school growing up. I have always watched them on TV,” David Sanders previously told On3. “To get that offer was a dream come true. Clemson is a school I am really looking at. Clemson is showing me that I’m one of their highest targets. I was one of their first offers for the 2025 class. That meant the world to me.”

David Sanders’ On3 NIL Valuation

The five-star prospect currently holds a $185,000 On3 NIL Valuation, which ranks in the top 60 of the high school football rankings. Working with WME, he’ll be working on building out his brand and social media following. The agency will also help put Sanders in front of companies.

The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets the standard market NIL value for high school and college athletes. A proprietary algorithm, the On3 NIL Valuation calculates an athlete’s NIL value using dynamic data points targeting three primary categories: performance, influence and exposure.

About On3 NIL Valuation, Brand Value, Roster Value

While the algorithm includes deal data, it does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals athletes have completed to date, nor does it set an athlete’s NIL valuation for their entire career.