We’re close to discovering where five-star offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. of Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day will play his college ball.
The four finalists: Georgia, Nebraska, Ohio State and Tennessee.
But he finished camp at left tackle and never looked back — Sanders was the varsity starting left tackle by Week 1 of his freshman season.
“That sparked the interest in left tackle and I just fell in love with it.”
It’s a beginning that will certainly have one fan base fired up to know a bonafide left tackle with NFL franchise potential will be protecting their quarterback for years to come.
The whereabouts of five-star offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. are about to become clear. in Charlotte, North Carolina. B. Playing his college ball will be Providence Day. Sanders is the No. One prospect at his position, will make his announcement live on the 247Sports YouTube channel and CBS Sports HQ this Saturday at 1:15 p.m. me. ET.
Tennessee, Ohio State, Nebraska, and Georgia are the four finalists.
This is how Sanders’ recruitment has changed over time, and how we got here.
Following his eighth-grade season, Sanders received an offer from Michigan, where he was a standout performer at the FBU Freshman All-American Bowl in December 2021. After his first season, he received offers from nine Power Four schools, and by the end of his sophomore year, that number had increased to nearly twenty (including Tennessee and UGA, two of the top four finalists).
Prior to his sophomore campaign, two years prior, in August 2022, Sanders stated to 247Sports, “Georgia and Michigan have been doing a really good job…… NC State, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee [are others].”. “.”.
Two months after Sanders became 247Sports’ first 2025 five-star, Clemson made a big splash when it announced that he had received the school’s first 2025 offer in July 2023. However, the Tigers’ 2023 season did not go well for the program, and Dabo Swinney fired offensive line coach Thomas Austin. In short order, Clemson was forgotten.
As his junior season played out last season, Georgia really took the lead as the most talked-about front-runner. For a portion of Sanders’ recruiting, Kirby Smart appeared ready to sweep to victory.
The Tigers are back in the hunt thanks to Matt Luke, the new offensive line coach at Clemson. Additionally, there was talk that Clemson had risen to the top of the rankings following back-to-back visits in March. It did not last long.
When Tennessee brought him on campus on April 6 and 12, four months ago, the Vols made it clear that they had no intention of competing for a top-five spot. To be the front-runners, they fully committed themselves.
In May, Ohio State managed to gain some momentum. Early in July, Sanders released a top four that included Georgia, Nebraska, Ohio State, Tennessee, and Alabama. This came after official visits to Clemson, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and Ohio State in June (and official visits to South Carolina and Nebraska in April and May, appropriately). The final week of July found him back in Nebraska and Tennessee.
With Providence Day, Sanders played tight end and defensive end in his first preseason camp as a freshman. However, Sanders completed camp as a left tackle and never looked back; by Week 1 of his rookie campaign, he was the varsity starting left tackle.
Sanders said to 247Sports in 2022, “I was pretty good at blocking when we started doing pass blocking [in preseason camp].”. That ignited my interest in left tackle, and I quickly developed a deep love for it. “.
As he finishes his recruitment as an uncommitted prospect on Saturday, Sanders—possibly the most well-known household name in his class—will aim to wrap up his pursuit.
As Providence Day looks to get off to a strong start to the season, all the pressure that comes with being a highly sought-after left tackle prospect from a recruiting standpoint will fade over the remaining portion of this month. Class 4A state champion Matthews (N.J.) is the opponent the Chargers will face. B. The Carolina Panthers’ home field, Bank of America Stadium, will host Weddington the following week.
Recruiting operates that way; it is not a reflection on Sanders. Naturally, as October draws near and November brings us closer to December’s early signing period, curiosity will grow. Will Sanders plan to visit one or more of the finalists who don’t land him on Saturday, or has someone else made a move?
For now, though, all that matters is Sanders’ big day, both its beginning and its end.
This is just the beginning, and one fan base will be excited to know that their quarterback will be protected for years to come by a legitimate left tackle with NFL franchise potential.
For exclusive on-site coverage both before and after Sanders’ announcement, stay tuned to 247Sports.
