David Sanders, 4-star OT out of North Carolina, headlines initial Top 100 class of 2025

David Sanders, a 4-star offensive tackle out of Charlotte, North Carolina (Providence Day School), has opened as the top player in the initial top 100 for the 2025 class, according to 247Sports.

Sanders is 6-foot-6 and 255 pounds and has a reported 21 offers. He opened at the top because of his high-end traits, including height, length, two-way snaps on the field and experience in multiple sports. Elijah Griffin, a talented defensive lineman from Savannah, Georgia Christian Prep, is another player to watch in the class.

While rankings get a lot of attention in recruiting, 247Sports offered this explanation:

With all of that as context, 247Sports presents the initial top 100 for the 2025 class. Yes, thinking of this exercise as more of a “watch list” than a hard-and-fast sequential ranking is a good idea; after all, beyond the top 12 players, every prospect on the list (deservingly) boasts an initial four-star 90 rating (those top 12 range from 91 to 93). Here’s a link to the top 100, plus some themes to consider in the seminal stages of the 2025 cycle:

Gabe Brooks of 247Sports offered this scouting report on Sanders: Sanders owns immense frame potential with a lean, athletic build for such a large prospect, especially at this stage. His dimensions and functional athleticism — no doubt fostered by previous basketball participation and outstanding freshman shot put (49-9) and discus (130-7) performances — could undoubtedly allow Sanders to live full-time on defense in the long term. Speaking of, Sanders recorded two sacks in this past week’s season opener.

Here is Sanders working at a camp earlier this year:

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.