As excitement continues to ramp up ahead of his first season on Rocky Top, Tennessee newcomer David Sanders Jr. has been named to On3Sports’ Preseason True Freshman All-American Team. He is the Vols’ lone player on the list.
Sanders, a North Carolina native, was Tennessee’s top overall commitment in the 2025 recruiting class. Rivals’ Industry Rankings had him as the No. 9 player in the class, the No. 2 offensive tackle in the cycle, and the No. 1 player from the state of North Carolina.
He joins a Tennessee team that’s currently in the process of rebuilding its offensive line from the 2024 season. The Vols lost four starters on the line, paving the way for the former blue-chip prospect to step into a starting role in his first season with the team. Sanders looks poised to start at right tackle this season, on the opposite side of returning starter Lance Heard at left tackle.
“A former Five-Star Plus+ prospect who was the jewel of Tennessee’s recruiting class, David Sanders is on pace to pay immediate dividends,” On3’s Charles Power wrote. “Sanders is set to start at right tackle for the Volunteers. The 6-foot-6, 305-pounder was the twitchiest pass blocker in a 2025 cycle that was loaded with elite offensive tackles. Sanders has earned praise throughout fall camp and could be primed to make a splash in the SEC as a true freshman.”
One of the most notable changes that Sanders has made in his short time with the Tennessee program is to his body. Early into fall camp in late July, Sanders told the media that he had put on nearly 40 pounds, sitting just shy of 310 on Tennessee’s official website.
“We did one-on-ones for the first time today,” Sanders said after an early practice into fall camp. “Going against Dom Bailey, I remember in spring ball him pumping me, and me just flying around. Today, I’m actually sat down. Definitely more powerful in the run game, more powerful in the pass game.”
Preseason Freshman All-American@DavidLSandersJr@On3sports | #GBO🍊 pic.twitter.com/meo7FWMaUj
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) August 23, 2025
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The improvement to his body for on-field production is just a piece of the puzzle, though. Tennessee offensive line coach Glen Elarbee also spoke about the mental aspect when talking about Sanders’ potential to start back in early August.
“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.”
Sanders is a true competitor and wants to be a difference-maker on the field. He’s carried a mindset throughout fall camp that nothing will be given to him because of his elite recruiting status, and that he would have to go out and earn the spot through his work on and off the field.
“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.”
Other SEC players on On3’s Preseason All-Freshman team include Florida wide receiver Dallas Wilson, Oklahoma offensive lineman Michael Fasusi, Georgia offensive lineman Juan Gaston, Texas A&M EDGE rusher Marco Jones, Florida EDGE rusher Jayden Woods, Georgia defensive lineman Elijah Griffin, Texas defensive back Graceson Littleton, and LSU defensive back DJ Pickett.
Another notable name on the list is Syracuse cornerback Demetres Samuel Jr, who Tennessee will likely see in the season opener against the Orange on Aug. 30 in Atlanta, GA.
Check out the full list here.
