How Tennessee Vols offensive lineman David Sanders Jr graded out as a true freshman in 2025
True freshman offensive lineman David Sanders Jr was an important player for the Tennessee Vols in 2025.
True freshman offensive lineman David Sanders Jr was an important player for the Tennessee Vols in 2025.
The former five-star recruit missed four games due to an injury he suffered in practice just before the start of the season. Sanders, however, quickly proved to be one of the Vols’ best offensive linemen upon making his debut.
David Sanders Jr graded as the top true freshman offensive tackle in college football in 2025
According to Pro Football Focus, Sanders graded out as the top true freshman offensive tackle in college football in 2025.
“The only true freshman tackle who had a higher PFF run-blocking grade than [Oklahoma OT Michael] Fasusi was Sanders, who recorded a 69.9 grade in that regard,” wrote PFF’s Max Chadwick. “The North Carolina native had a 69.9 overall grade as well, which led all true freshman tackles in the country.”
Fasusi, who was rated as the No. 1 offensive tackle in the 2025 recruiting class (Sanders was No. 2), earned a 64.4 overall grade from PFF last season.
A big reason Sanders was graded higher is because he allowed only two sacks last season, while Fasusi allowed four.
Sanders was Tennessee’s starting right tackle in 2025, but he’s expected to move to left tackle in 2026 (which is the primary reason why Lance Heard, who started at left tackle for the Vols in 2025, transferred to Kentucky this offseason).
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