ACC collective makes big NIL claim about Tennessee Vols 5-star signee David Sanders Jr

The Tennessee Vols' biggest addition over the last month was easily 2025 five-star offensive lineman David Sanders Jr.  Sanders, 6-foot-6/290 lbs from Charlotte, NC, is the No. 6 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class according to 247Sports' composite rankings.  The Vols managed to sign Sanders in December despite a late push from the Ohio […]

Zach Ragan — Tennessee Volunteers News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google
Tennessee Vols
Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Tennessee Vols' biggest addition over the last month was easily 2025 five-star offensive lineman David Sanders Jr. 

Sanders, 6-foot-6/290 lbs from Charlotte, NC, is the No. 6 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class according to 247Sports' composite rankings. 

The Vols managed to sign Sanders in December despite a late push from the Ohio State Buckeyes. 

While it's unknown exactly what kind of NIL deal Sanders received from Tennessee, there's no doubt that NIL was a factor, to some extent, in the stud offensive lineman's decision to sign with the Vols. 

An ACC collective suggested to On3 this week that Sanders is the highest-paid player in the 2025 recruiting class. 

Whether or not that's true is anyone's guess due to the lack of verifiable information about NIL deals across the country. 

It's worth noting, however, that two SEC collectives and an SEC personnel staffer told On3 that five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood, who signed with Michigan, is the highest-paid player in the 2025 recruiting class. 

Underwood is rated as the No. 1 overall player in the nation. 

Regardless of where Sanders ranks in NIL pay, it's clear that he received one of the more lucrative deals in the sport for a high school recruit. 

David Sanders Jr expected to play a key role for the Tennessee Vols in 2025

Sanders is expected to start at right tackle for the Volunteers in 2025. 

The Charlotte native has NFL talent and he could end up being a future first-round pick. Sanders will face big expectations as a true freshman in Knoxville because of his big NIL deal, but it's important for fans to remember that he's not a finished product. He's a player that should absolutely make the Vols a better team in 2025, but he still has some growing and developing to do as a player. A big NIL deal doesn't change that. 

Sanders will undoubtedly experience some growing pains during his first year in college. And that's something that fans just have to accept. Patience with young players is still needed, even in this new era of college football where players are earning significant money straight out of high school. 

Related Articles