This Sentell’s Intel rep on Georgia football recruiting has the latest with 5-star OT David Sanders Jr. He ranks as the nation’s No. 1 OT and the No. 2 overall prospect for 2025 for the 247Sports Composite and the On3 Industry Ranking.
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The David Sanders recruitment has been a long and winding road. No matter where he goes he will probably develop into an NFL prospect barring injuries. But Sanders has a real dilemma.
The more I follow his recruitment the more it seems that Sanders wants a landing spot that is a home run in every category. His family is very close knit (a wonderful thing). So he wants a place relatively close to home. Also, the NIL component is attractive because of what it can do for the Sanders family now. But it also sounds like he expects a home run when it comes to NIL, education, development, exposure, championship contention, team culture and team unselfishness.
IF his 4 leaders are UGA, Clemson, OSU and TN then UGA and Clemson are the closest schools to allow Sanders to maintain a regular presence in the family "for the next 3 to 4 years". But UGA and Clemson will not outbid OSU and TN in NIL. OSU is spending wildly trying to buy a championship. TN isn't far behind.
IMO OSU is too far away unless the NIL inducement is sufficient to move the entire family to Columbus. If you have ever been to Columbus OH you know it is not a fun place to spend "the next 3 to 4" winters. At TN Sanders will protect a 5* QB and get a crash course pass protection. He is an athletic yet undersized OT better suited to pass protection than playing bully ball. I.e. the path of least resistance and wear and tear from HS to the NFL is going to TN. TN is also relatively close to his NC home. But TN has yet to prove that it can be an elite program year in and year out. Still it feels like TN will cough up the necessary dough and still meet enough of the required criteria to get the commitment.
