2025 five-star offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. (Charlotte, N.C.) has been high on the Tennessee Volunteers and brings a lot of things to the table.
David Sanders Jr., an offensive tackle for Providence Day School, has gained attention since his freshman year of high school. As he approaches his senior season, the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2025 cycle is highly regarded by three SEC programs: Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings. Sanders is aware of the consequences of his choice in the building, and the Vols have dedicated a lot of effort to this recruitment.
Since moving to Knoxville, Tennessee, offensive line coach Glen Elarbee of Tennessee has done a good job of retooling his team. He performed admirably in the 2024 class, but in 2025 he has his sights set on a few big fish, Sanders foremost. Sanders’ ascent to the top will require a lot of work, but they will benefit if they can sign Brentwood Academy quarterback George MacIntyre. In order to ascertain why Sanders is such a crucial choice for Tennessee, we turned to the tape.
Set Pass-Rush
Many offensive linemen in high school show promise in run-blocking. Sanders stands out in pass protection; his athletic build and polished technique helped him win state titles as a three-year left tackle starter for Providence Day. His hallmark snatch motion puts opponent defensive lineman in an almost impossible position to start the rep by swiftly locating their shoulder pads and getting them on the ground. Sanders doesn’t need further assistance to keep his quarterback clean because he can kick-slide out and gain depth against elite pass-rushers.
Drive Your Legs
Sanders, who is 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 270 pounds, has been deliberately gaining weight since starting high school. Despite his desire to maintain his exceptional agility, he is aware that he needs to lose weight in order to play Power-5 football and beyond. Nevertheless, his leg drive is so strong that it sends even the strongest defender reeling. Sanders is heavily used in run-game extensions by Providence Day because they have faith in his ability to get outside the tackle box, engage, and then be forceful enough to open a gap. Engaging with a defender gives him momentum with every step, and it should carry over into a consistent weight-gain trend.
Make an attempt
When assessing offensive linemen, there are two components to consider: effort and violence. Sanders still needs to work on his finishing blocks’ violence because, at this stage in the game, high school students can be inconsistent. Sanders, on the other hand, plays with his hair on fire because he wants to block numerous defenders in order to make the crucial block. At Providence Day, he fits in nicely with a lively, productive system—something that requires a strong motor.