During fall camp, David Sanders Jr., a true freshman, has been getting his share of snaps on the first team as a right tackle.
Despite his inexperience, there’s clear confidence that Sanders can be ready to be an effective tackle in the SEC. In the effort to get ready for this first year, he’s already put on nearly 40 pounds of weight.
This is part of the reason his position coach, Glen Elarbee, thinks he can succeed this early in his career. It’s this physical aspect, along with the mental part, that continues to improve.
“One, the mental assignment part of it, you got to be able to go to the right guy,” Elarbee said on what will make Sanders ready to start. “Two, the technique of what you’re doing when you get there. And I’m not sure any of these are in particular order. Like you gotta have both those and then for sure you got to go play just incredibly hard and strain and try to go bury somebody. And if you can go to the right guy, do it with good technique and do it really hard, you’ll be ready to go.”
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Sanders is approaching the season focused on taking the starting job. Despite the big ask, he doesn’t feel pressured to be ready. Instead, he looks at it as an opportunity to play early.
At the end of the day, he knows that if he doesn’t continue to improve, any spot he earns at one point can be usurped from him.
“I feel like it was opportunity,” Sanders said on the chance to start. “I didn’t feel any pressure from the coaching staff or from myself at all. Everybody was just taking it day by day. Nobody ever came to me and said you gotta be our starter. Even today, yes, I’m running with the ones, but I still have to come in every single day and work, because your spot can be taken by anybody. Just got to approach every day with the mindset that you got to get better.”
Sanders was a five-star prospect who ranked as the No. 6 overall recruit and top offensive tackle in the country, according to Rivals. The Vols had to fend off a late push from Ohio State, but landed the services of the tackle with an early signing day signature.
The North Carolina native has been with the team since bowl prep as a result. He got the chance to see the Buckeyes in person during the College Football Playoffs, but from the Tennessee sideline.
