National media outlet says Tennessee Vols commit is 'poised for stardom' as a true freshman in 2025
247Sports pointed out several 2025 recruits this week that are "poised for stardom" as true freshmen next season and a Tennessee Vols commit made their list. 2025 five-star offensive lineman David Sanders Jr, who has been committed to Tennessee since August, was one of six players included on 247Sports' list. From 247Sports: "We have been high […]
247Sports pointed out several 2025 recruits this week that are "poised for stardom" as true freshmen next season and a Tennessee Vols commit made their list.
2025 five-star offensive lineman David Sanders Jr, who has been committed to Tennessee since August, was one of six players included on 247Sports' list.
From 247Sports: "We have been high on David Sanders for three years. Since Josh Heupel arrived at Tennessee, the Vols have yet to start an offensive lineman his staff has signed out of high school. Sanders will buck that trend. Is he ready to go year one in the SEC? He's on the lighter side. If they can get him into a developmental strength program and get that body right and improve his play strength, there's a chance he's the Vols' right tackle opposite of Lance Heard in 2025."
Sanders, 6-foot-6/290 lbs from Charlotte, NC, is rated in 247Sports' composite rankings as the No. 1 offensive tackle in the nation and the No. 3 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class.
Tennessee hasn't typically given opportunities to true freshmen offensive linemen under Josh Heupel.
Sanders, however, could be an exception thanks to his elite talent.
But it's probably too early to know if he'll play at left tackle or right tackle. Tennessee has shown a willingness under Heupel to move tackles around from year to year (Darnell Wright played left tackle in 2021 before moving to right tackle in 2022….and John Campbell played left tackle in 2023 before moving to right tackle in 2024). I don't think a scenario where Lance Heard moves to right tackle and Sanders plays left tackle can be ruled out.
Of course, a starting position won't just be given to Sanders. There are plenty of offensive linemen on Tennessee's roster that will be eager to prove next offseason that they deserve a starting role on the Vols' offensive line.
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