Just hours prior to five-star offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. comes off the board, Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney ranks the contenders left in his recruitment.
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1. TENNESSEE
Sanders has been a frequent visitor to Knoxville throughout the recruiting process, making at least five trips there including one at the end of July in what was rumored to be an opportunity to get some more video highlights for his commitment release.
Not only is the five-star offensive tackle very familiar with Tennessee, he’s also very comfortable there and loves the coaching staff. Sanders has some of the best relationships with coach Josh Heupel and position coach Glen Elarbee, perhaps the strongest in his recruitment.
From the offensive style to playing in the SEC to his relationships and comfort level in Knoxville, it would be a stunner on Saturday if Sanders picked anywhere else.
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2. OHIO STATE
As of a few weeks ago, the feeling was that Sanders’ recruitment was a “toss-up” but after the five-star visited Tennessee and Nebraska on the final weekend of trips and as things have moved in the Vols’ favor over the last few weeks, it looks like the Buckeyes are going to finish in second place here.
Sanders is very familiar with Ohio State and the Buckeyes looked like the team to beat for a while as the Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day standout visited Columbus numerous times. He has a strong bond with position coach Justin Frye and others but only one school could be selected and Ohio State, which has five five-stars already committed, will probably not be getting Sanders to join the class.
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3. NEBRASKA
The Nebraska faithful got really pumped in recent weeks when Sanders visited Lincoln again and rightfully so. The trip took place only weeks prior to his decision, the Huskers literally rolled out the red carpet for him and five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola made it a personal priority to show Sanders around and spend the weekend with him.
It was a valiant try but Nebraska is just not there yet to be swiping away five-star offensive tackles. There seemed to be legitimate intrigue in the possibility of blocking for Raiola, of being part of Nebraska’s rebuild into a national power and coach Matt Rhule is very likable. But only one program can win out for Sanders’ services.
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4. GEORGIA
There was a time not so long ago that Georgia felt like the leader for Sanders and it totally made sense. The best offensive tackle in the class going to the best program in the country, where the Bulldogs are pumping out NFL players across the board. Amarius Mims was a first-rounder in this year’s draft. More will be coming from that position room in Athens.
But as Sanders continued through his recruitment, Georgia seemed to be sliding down the list along with Clemson and others, while Tennessee and Ohio State climbed. With four high-level four-stars on the offensive line already committed to the Bulldogs, they will be fine but adding someone of Sanders’ caliber would have been the icing on the cake.
