Tennessee player makes ESPN’s projection of ‘top 10 freshmen’ for 2025
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The hype is building for Tennessee freshman offensive lineman David Sanders Jr.
Sanders was included on ESPN’s projection of the top 10 true freshmen for the 2025 season, which published on Monday mornings. Sanders clocked in at No. 6 and was the top-ranked SEC player to make the cut.
Here’s some analysis on Sanders’ immediate future from ESPN’s Billy Tucker:
Rarely does Tennessee turn over a starting offensive line spot to a freshman, but Sanders has all the markers of an impactful tackle out of the gate in Rocky Top. Coming out of high school, his lack of ideal bulk and strength was concerning, but he has put on over 30 pounds of muscle and has added great power to his frame since arriving in Knoxville last spring. He was named North Carolina’s Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior, a rare accolade for an offensive lineman, and was the No. 7 recruit in the Class of 2025. Sanders will have every opportunity to win the starting right tackle spot on a Volunteers line that needs to replace four starters from 2024 as they retool in search of another College Football Playoff berth.
As Tucker notes, Sanders has put on a lot of good weight this offseason, which has him in position to be an early contributor for the Vols. He also arrived in Knoxville back in the spring with elite prospect pedigree. As a 5-star recruit, Sanders was regarded as the No. 6 overall player in the nation for the class of 2026, per 247Sports Composite rankings.
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Sanders is a strong contender to start at right tackle for the Vols in 2025. Tennessee figures to have a strong O-line this fall — a group that includes veteran left tackle Lance Heard as well as incoming transfers Sam Pendleton and Wendell Moe Jr.
Tennessee will begin the 2025 season with Syracuse on Aug. 30.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
