Tennessee O-Lineman Achieves Spot On Preseason Freshman All-American Team
Image: Nick Long
By Aidan Sidoti
Alright, enough talk about the five-star prospect that didn’t choose Tennessee today.
Our beloved five-star tackle David Sanders earned some national recognition on Tuesday, achieving a spot on On3’s 2025 Preseason True Freshman All-American Team, an honor given to 22 first-year players who project to make an immediate impact this fall.
The Charlotte native, who enrolled early in January, has added nearly 40 pounds since arriving in Knoxville.
Ranked as the No. 6 overall recruit in the 2025 cycle, Sanders is already competing for a starting role on the offensive line and is projected to be the starting right tackle when the Volunteers take on Syracuse in the season opener.
On3 isn’t the only one giving Sanders the recognition he deserves, Tennessee offensive line coach Glen Elarbee had high praise for the 6-foot-6, 305-pound stud:
“The guy has done an incredible job of putting on weight and getting to a place where he can function here in the SEC,” Elarbee remarked in his post-practice press conference. “Mentally, he spent as much time or more time than anybody reading, walking through, understanding there’s still way, way more to keep going.”
Quite the acclaim for a true freshman offensive lineman.
With the season opener against Syracuse at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, most eyes will be on Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar, but don’t be surprised if the freshman right tackle wearing No. 70 starts turning heads right away.
