Film Analysis: David Sanders Jr. Has Special Traits

2025 five-star offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. (Charlotte, N.C.) has been high on the Tennessee Volunteers and brings a lot of things to the table.

Providence Day School offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. has been in the spotlight since he was a freshman in high school. The No. 2 overall prospect in the 2025 cycle, according to the 247Sports' Composite Rankings, is high on a trio of SEC programs heading into his senior season: Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. The Vols have invested a lot of time into this recruitment, and Sanders understands the ramifications of his decision in the building.

Tennessee offensive line coach Glen Elarbee has done a nice job of retooling his unit since arriving in Knoxville, Tennessee. He did nice work in the 2024 class but has his eyes on a few big fish in 2025, Sanders chief among them. It will take a lot to get Sanders on Rocky Top, though landing Brentwood Academy quarterback George MacIntyre would help them. We went to the tape to determine what makes Sanders such an important option for Tennessee.

5⭐️ OT @DavidLSandersJr is high on the #Vols. Tennessee sits in the top three of this recruitment alongside Alabama and Georgia.

The No. 2 prospect in 2025 has college traits that have had him in national talks since his freshman year. 🧵

➕ Pass-rush set
➕ Leg drive
➕ Effort pic.twitter.com/VryJQWiVFt

— Evan Crowell (@evanvcrowell) January 15, 2024

Pass-Rush Set

There are a lot of high school offensive tackles that flash in run-blocking. Sanders separates himself in pass protection - his athletic profile and refined technique enabled him to become a three-year starter for Providence Day at left tackle while winning state championships. He has a signature snatch move where he quickly locates the shoulder pads of opposing defensive linemen and gets them on the ground, putting them in a near-impossible situation to start the rep. Sanders can kick-slide out and get depth on high-caliber pass-rushers, keeping his quarterback clean without needing extra help.

Leg Drive

Sanders stands 6-6 and weighs 270 pounds; he's been purposefully adding weight to his frame since he entered high school. He doesn't want to sacrifice his unique athleticism but knows he must get to a weight suitable for Power-5 football and beyond. Still, his leg drive is powerful, with even the biggest defenders stumbling backward. Providence Day greatly utilizes Sanders in run-game extensions because they trust him to get outside the tackle box, engage, and then be violent enough to create a gap. He gains momentum with each passing step when he engages with a defender, and that should continue with a steady weight-gain progression.

Effort

There are two categories when evaluating offensive linemen: violence and effort. Sanders still must work on the violence when finishing blocks, as they can tend to be inconsistent at this point for high schoolers. However, Sanders plays with his hair on fire - this is a guy who wants to block multiple defenders who wants to make the winning block. He's fit well into a dynamic, prolific system at Providence Day, and you can't do that without a high motor.

2025 5-star OT David Sanders Jr. during an unofficial visit to Tennessee. (Photo courtesy of David Sanders Jr.)

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