Tennessee has landed one of the very best out of the 2025 class.
During The Paul Finebaum Show on Thursday, 5-star offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. announced that he has signed with the Volunteers. Sanders committed to the Vols back in August but there was concern that pledge might be on shaky ground following a visit to Ohio State last month. He delayed signing when the Early Signing Period opened on Wednesday, but it seems that was just to give the Vols their chance to shine on Finebaum’s show.
“Tennessee’s been in it from the very beginning. They offered me as a freshman in high school and they’ve been on me every year since then,” Sanders told the SEC Network host. “Just expressing to me that I was a priority in their class and a must-get for the Class of 2025.
“Coach (Josh) 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. … The recruiting class we have coming in, I feel like we have a great mix of guys — great quarterback, great receiver, a good defensive core coming in, and other offensive linemen as well. I’m super excited about that.”
The best OL in the entire country @DavidLSandersJr is heading to Rocky Top. @Vol_Football pic.twitter.com/RGxc7NKgox
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) December 5, 2024
And just to make it officially official, Tennessee announced the signing on social media shortly after Sanders’ appearance.
https://twitter.com/Vol_Football/status/1864792733895860513
Sanders is the top-ranked recruit in Tennessee’s top-10 class. The 6-foot-6 tackle from Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day School is the top-ranked prospect at his position as well as in his home state. In the industry-generated 247 Composite, Sanders is the fifth-ranked recruit in the entire class.
Throughout May and June, he took official visits to Nebraska, Clemson, Georgia, Tennessee, and Ohio State. The Vols’ work paid off.
And the future of Heupel’s offense is clear. Sanders protects for top-100 quarterback George MacIntyre, who can spray the football to either top-100 receiver Travis Smith Jr. or top-100 tight end Da’Saahn Brame.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.