Ohio State offensive tackle target David Sanders Jr. commits to Tennessee
COLUMBUS — It was the toughest domino to watch fall in the other direction for Ohio State. But it’s a scene the Buckeyes are painfully accustomed to.
Five-star Plus+ Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day School offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. announced his commitment to Tennessee on Saturday afternoon. Sanders is the country’s No. 1 offensive tackle and the No. 4 overall prospect according to the On3 Industry Rankings. On3 has Sanders as the No. 6 overall prospect and the No. 2 offensive tackle. Both metrics have him as the No. 1 player in North Carolina.
Sanders had a final four consistent of Tennessee, Ohio State, Nebraska and Georgia.
Tennessee has always maintained a steady pace in Sanders’ recruitment. The Volunteers offered him in April 2023 ahead of his junior season. He’s visited Knoxville at least seven times throughout his recruitment according to the On3 Visit Center.
Ohio State wasn’t just a hat on the table, however. The Buckeyes developed one of Sanders’ role models in the game — Paris Johnson Jr. The scheme Ohio State runs is comparable to what Providence Day does and the life after football aspect was always very intriguing to him.
But the connections, relationships, NIL opportunities and path to the field at Tennessee all were more favorable for Sanders.
Ohio State still holds the top-ranked 2025 recruiting class according to the On3 Team Industry Rankings. While it sits at the top, there are more questions than answers about the offensive line recruiting. The Buckeyes have four-star Toledo (Ohio) Whitmer offensive tackle Carter Lowe and three-star Westerville (Ohio) North IOL Jake Cook as the only two in the class.
This is a recruiting cycle where Ohio State needed at least five, maybe even six. Four-star Washington D.C. Riverdale Baptist IOL Jayvon McFadden still looms out on the trail for the Buckeyes. But beyond him, the names are unknown.
