As “Rocky Top” played through the gym speakers at Providence Day School, David Sanders Jr. sat with a smile as reporters hurried to ask him questions. In the past five minutes, he had experienced a whirlwind of emotions—crying, laughing, and finally, feeling a sense of relief. His college decision was made, and he could finally breathe.
On Saturday afternoon, Sanders chose Tennessee over Ohio State, Nebraska, and Georgia, ending a lengthy pursuit by the Buckeyes. Unfortunately for Ohio State, Sanders opted for Rocky Top, leaving the 2025 recruiting class in uncertainty without a clear replacement for his spot.
Making the decision wasn’t easy for Sanders. There had been speculation that proximity might play a role in his choice, with Knoxville, Tennessee, being about a 3 1/2-hour drive from his hometown of Charlotte, compared to Columbus, which is roughly seven hours away.
However, Sanders dispelled that notion on Saturday, revealing just how close the Buckeyes came to securing the No. 2 overall prospect and No. 1 offensive tackle in the 2025 class.
“Location played a bit of a role, but I swear Ohio State was right there,” Sanders admitted. “The cold wouldn’t have mattered—I was almost there.”
Sanders also praised Ohio State for its recruitment efforts, emphasizing that choosing between his top two schools was an incredibly difficult decision.
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