Commitments are pouring in for the 2025 recruiting class, but one of the top players in the country remains undecided.
That might be good news for the Tennessee Volunteers.
David Sanders Jr. is a 5-star recruit in the upcoming class. He's widely considered the No. 1 offensive tackle in the country, coming out of Providence Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Sanders has set his commitment date for August 17, and will choose between the Georgia Bulldogs, Ohio State Buckeyes, Nebraska Cornhuskers, and Tennessee.
All of these programs offer a unique recruiting pitch to Sanders. However, his comments about the Volunteers program indicate that head coach Josh Heupel has a unique edge compared to the other schools.
“I just love Tennessee’s coaching staff. Coach (Josh) Heupel and Coach (Glen) Elarbee, they do a great job with that personal connection," Sanders told On3. "I think out of anybody, they do the best job calling, texting, just staying in contact with my parents and building that relationship."
Sanders isn't the first 2025 recruit to say similar things about the Volunteers. 4-star commit Mariyon Dye talked about the importance of the relationships between him and the coaches and how that was a deciding factor for him picking Tennessee.
Heupel is continuing to build a strong culture at Tennessee. He's gone 27-12 in three seasons as head coach, including 20 wins over the last two years. Meanwhile, he currently has the No. 13 recruiting class in the country for 2025, which is right in line with where his previous recruiting classes have ranked.
Landing a commitment from a 5-star recruit like Sanders could take the 2025 class over the edge, and help draw interest from future recruits down the road.
