Tennessee Vols player named as one of the top freshmen that's expected to make a big impact in college football in 2025
CBS Sports listed a member of the Tennessee Vols' 2025 signing class as a freshman that's poised to make a big impact in college football this fall. The national sports media outlet listed Vols true freshman David Sanders Jr, a former five-star recruit, among their top impact freshmen for the 2025 season. From CBS Sports: […]
CBS Sports listed a member of the Tennessee Vols' 2025 signing class as a freshman that's poised to make a big impact in college football this fall.
The national sports media outlet listed Vols true freshman David Sanders Jr, a former five-star recruit, among their top impact freshmen for the 2025 season.
From CBS Sports: The Vols return only one starter on the offensive line. When you combine that with the fact Sanders was a very highly paid player out of high school — follow the money with depth chart projections — and it'd be a surprise if Sanders didn't start most of the season. It helps his case that Larry Johnson, the player who earned most of the first-team reps at right tackle during the spring, transferred to Colorado. That leaves the door is wide open for Sanders to emerge as a Day 1 starter opposite standout left tackle Lance Heard. Sanders needs to show continued improvement in the weight room — he gained 20 pounds from the winter to the end of spring practices — but the Vols didn't pay Sanders to sit this season.
Sanders, who also strongly considered Ohio State during the recruiting process, is all but penciled in as Tennessee's starting right tackle in 2025 (especially with Larry Johnson transferring to Colorado).
There will likely be some growing pains for Sanders during his true freshman season. He looks like a future early round NFL draft pick, but he's also still developing as a player. I don't think there's any doubt that he's ready to compete in the SEC as a true freshman, but that doesn't mean he's a finished product.
Tennessee, however, needs Sanders to develop quickly. The Vols, like most teams in the sport, don't have a lot of depth along their offensive line.
