5-star Tennessee OT already looks like a physical specimen at spring camp

Yup, the David Sanders Jr. hype continues to grow.
5-star Tennessee football commit David Sanders Jr. during the Vol Walk before a game between Tennessee and Kent State in Neyland Stadium, in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
5-star Tennessee football commit David Sanders Jr. during the Vol Walk before a game between Tennessee and Kent State in Neyland Stadium, in Knoxville, Tenn., Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. | Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

With spring camp here, football is back for the Tennessee Vols and it couldn't have come any sooner. The UT playmakers are back on the field, getting an early start on the prep for the 2025 campaign. While there's plenty of focus on Nico Iamaleava, a lot of attention is going to the newcomers.

On that list is elite offensive tackle David Sanders Jr., who graduated high school early and is already on campus in Knoxville. Sanders is going through his first spring with Tennessee and he's wasting no time in looking like he's going to be a monster in the trenches for this team.

Thanks to WVLT Sports Director Rick Russo, everyone has been given a close look at him and goodness, Sanders is going to be a problem for opposing defensive linemen for a long time isn't he? Check out this clip below and try not to be impressed:

David Sanders Jr. is already making noise for the Tennessee Vols at spring ball

The 6-6, 285-pounder is looking like a natural fit already. Sanders may be a baby-faced freshman, but the expectation is that he'll push for a starting job during his first campaign playing for Tennessee head man Josh Heupel.

Normally, a true freshman offensive lineman will redshirt during his first season and then see playing time during Year 2. However, Sanders isn't your average lineman. He arrived at UT as a 5-star prospect, ranked the No. 2 OT in the country and No. 6 player overall per the 247Sports Composite rankings.

Late in his recruitment, there was plenty of worry that he was going to flip to Ohio State. When Sanders didn't make things official with the Vols during the first day of the Early Signing Period, panic alarms went off among the fanbase.

Thankfully, though, the North Carolina product made things official with the SEC powerhouse soon after and he's now excited to make plays for Heupel. The Vols HC has been impressed with what he's seen out of the youngster too, which makes things even better. The future is bright for Sanders, who has playmaker written all over him.

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