5-star David Sanders Jr. simply introduced his closing six contenders. The offensive sort out out of Charlotte (N.C.) Windfall Day has narrowed his focus to Tennessee, Georgia, Clemson, South Carolina, Ohio State, and Alabama.
Sanders goes in-depth on every of his finalists beneath however a few of his feedback reveal a bit about the place his recruitment might be headed.
On if Tennessee, Georgia, and Clemson are the higher tier of his high six- “I’d positively say that is an correct assertion for positive,” Sanders stated. “These are among the colleges which were recruiting me the toughest, however I really feel like my high six is admittedly a fair taking part in area. We will begin from floor zero over again. I really feel like all people that is in right here has the best shot of touchdown me so it will be who can do one of the best from now to the time I make my resolution. In my view, these spring visits, spending time round these packages, these gamers and the teaching employees, and the realm I will be in goes to be an important time for me to essentially really feel like I could be profitable at these universities. It’s greater than soccer. Who can actually present these off-the-field alternatives for me to achieve success as a younger man goes to be a really, crucial piece for me. I actually like all six colleges and I would not put anyone over anyone at this level.”
On what’s subsequent in his recruitment- “I’ve not completed finalizing the go to schedule but,” he stated. “My mother, my dad, and I are nonetheless calling colleges to ensure they’ve practices and ensuring I haven’t got college. We should always have that throughout the subsequent week. All people can have an unofficial go to and an official go to.
“I am actually excited about the August or September vary (for my dedication),” stated Sanders. “After these officers, we’ll actually sit down with the household all through July and take a break from the recruiting course of, take a break from interviews and speaking to folks. I really feel like all the knowledge that we will have wanted to make that call will likely be given to us between the spring and official visits in order that’ll be an important time for me. I positively do not need to take it too deep into my senior 12 months as a result of I simply need to take pleasure in being with the fellows. I will be graduating early so I simply need to benefit from the final couple of months as a highschool athlete.”
TENNESSEE
“I simply liked every little thing they have been doing with their program inside the previous couple of years,” stated Sanders. “It has been an incredible improvement, particularly coach Earbee and coach Heupel coming in and actually altering that program from what it was to how we see it now. They’ve an incredible future forward of them, I imagine, with Nico (Iamaleava) at quarterback after which they’ve George (MacIntyre) coming in that 2025 class. I simply suppose the longer term may be very, very brilliant for the College of Tennessee. They’ve completed an incredible job attending to know me as an individual, attending to know me as a participant, and attending to know my household as nicely. Their general means of recruiting has been wonderful and I simply love all people inside this system so far as offensive line coach, receiver coaches, the final managers, and all people. It has been wonderful.”
On if Tennessee was the group he was most enthusiastic about popping out of the January contact period- “I’d say that is about right,” he stated. “The quantity of effort they put in recruiting me inside this final 12 months, I’d say they have been recruiting me one of the best out of anyone. That ‘want versus need’ issue performs an enormous position. They’ve loads of off-the-field alternatives you can get entangled in.
“Clearly they’ve a brilliant future with their quarterback Nico and bringing in George with that 2025 class,” stated Sanders. “I believe they’ll have a clean transition between these two guys.
“I like coach Elarbee and the best way he coaches,” he stated. “He coaches the fellows laborious. The present offensive linemen which can be there now, now we have good relationships with them. I speak to them frequently. It is even past soccer. They’re simply speaking to me and seeing how the recruiting course of goes and issues like that. It is simply been a blessing with the ability to construct these relationships with the College of Tennessee and I believe that is one thing they have been actually working with, these relationships and simply how grateful they’re to have me and my household of their life.”
GEORGIA
“They have been excessive on my listing since I began this factor,” Sanders stated. “You possibly can’t overlook Georgia, the back-to-back nationwide champions recognized for creating five-star expertise and persevering with that all over their faculty profession and changing into first spherical draft picks. They’ve completed an incredible job as nicely simply recruiting me all through this course of, getting me on campus a number of instances, getting me to the sport so I can actually really feel that environment and really feel what the College of Georgia is about. I like every little thing about Georgia and what they stand for as a program. Coach Good has completed an excellent job simply managing that program with every little thing they’ve occurring and nonetheless making time for recruits like myself to really feel wished and wanted throughout the program.
“Out of all people on the listing, I’ve recognized coach Searels the longest,” he stated. “He met me after I was going into the eighth grade and I did my first camp on the College of North Carolina. I used to be taking part in tight finish and defensive finish and he advised me I used to be going to be a primary spherical left sort out at some point. I did not imagine him on the time, however right here we’re. Having that relationship with him and him going to the College of Georgia, it has been an incredible factor for me getting to speak to him frequently and watching him develop that offensive line has been wonderful. I have been up there a number of instances, I believe at the least six instances in all probability. Watching guys work together with him simply goes to point out how a lot care and love he has for them. That simply goes past the recruiting facet, that goes to these relationships. You possibly can solely pretend it however a lot and the best way the fellows reply to you is a real reflection on how you actually are as an individual. I really feel like he is actually himself and he actually reveals you what you are going to get when you have been to come back play for him.
“Coach Good has completed an excellent job with Georgia and simply having them ready every week to go dominate groups.,” stated Sanders. “They go dominate every week. If you wish to be part of that, what you are going to join and the usual is to win a nationwide championship. In my view, I really feel like, at Georgia, when you do not win a nationwide championship that is a failed season. I really feel like, for me with my ability set and my management qualities, I may convey a distinct sort of aptitude to the group and we would positively be rolling.”
CLEMSON
“Clemson is wonderful,” Sanders stated. “All people is aware of that Clemson was my dream college rising up so there’s a bit little bit of a heartstring factor with them. They’ve additionally completed an incredible job simply recruiting me. All people is aware of they do not simply provide all people within the nation so getting that supply as a junior and being the primary one to get the Clemson provide was simply one thing you can’t take as a right. All the things that Clemson affords as a college is wonderful for all and off the sphere alternatives, their PAW journey, and their lecturers are wonderful. Clemson throughout is a holistic college you can actually profit from. I actually like coach Sweeney and every little thing he is completed with this system and coach Luke being an addition to that teaching employees has been wonderful. I like his power and every little thing he brings to the recruiting and to this group.
“With Clemson, they’ve these heartstrings of me simply being a diehard fan as that six 12 months outdated, seven 12 months outdated little child sitting up on a Monday night time and I’ve college within the morning begging my mother and father let me watch the nationwide championship,” he stated. “I keep in mind issues like that as a bit child simply cheering for Clemson, watching them run down that hill. That was simply one thing I dreamed about as a bit child.
“I believe the largest factor for me with Clemson is simply these relationships and the way they recruited me,” stated Sanders. “They weren’t one of many colleges that supplied early. They supplied me in my junior 12 months, however they have been a type of colleges that I actually felt comfy with all through the method. I believe bringing coach Luke in was an excellent addition for them. All the things he brings to the desk so far as recruiting and to the group, I believe he is among the best for my part that I’ve seen to this point. I stay up for getting up there within the spring and watching him work together with the fellows, work together with the coaches and issues like that. All the things that Clemson stands for is wonderful with the off-the-field alternatives after which simply constructing you up from a younger man to a person is one thing you may’t take as a right.”
SOUTH CAROLINA
“South Carolina is unquestionably the closest college to me,” Sanders stated. “It is solely an hour and a half drive. That is one thing actually, actually essential to me, contemplating how tight I’m with my household and having three youthful sisters that will likely be rising up. Distance performs a bit little bit of an element. I simply see South Carolina as a land of alternative. They don’t seem to be often called a giant powerhouse within the SEC or a giant powerhouse in faculty soccer in any respect so you may go in there and actually change this system round to what you need it to be. In case you go there and you then make one thing of your self, you could be legendary at South Carolina. You win a nationwide championship there, that is one thing that is unprecedented down in Columbia, not like among the different colleges which can be within the dialog. I really feel like South Carolina has a novel alternative for me simply to go and simply be legendary.
“Figuring out that they are investing inside their group they usually’re beginning up entrance with Kam (Pringle), Blake (Franks), and Josiah (Thompson),” he stated. “These are the three of one of the best offensive linemen that that they had in that class in 2024 so beginning early and constructing that line up entrance goes to be very, very massive for them, particularly taking part in within the SEC. You possibly can’t be taking part in within the SEC with no little guys so it’s important to exit and recruit one of the best to essentially be capable to compete on the highest degree. I believe they actually established themselves as a type of packages that knew they weren’t among the best groups within the SEC however nonetheless got here after me saying I may come and actually make a distinction of their program and I could be the change for the College of South Carolina. For me, it was extra of a ‘we’d like you’ than ‘we wish to have you ever’ sort of issue. I really feel if I used to be to go to South Carolina, I’d be valued greater than an athlete and as an individual. In case you go to South Carolina and win a nationwide championship, you may be legendary down there in Columbia. They’re going to in all probability have a statue of you if win the nationwide championship down there.”
OHIO STATE
“Clearly they’re such a far distance away,” Sanders stated. “They name me frequently and we’re constructing these relationships. Figuring out that I am a child from down south with all these massive SEC and ACC colleges down right here proper in my yard just about, they’ve completed an incredible job. They’re recognized for making bookend tackles. Having that chance to be coached by one of the best and play one of the best every Saturday is one thing that basically appeals to me.
“The space performs a big think about getting there and with the ability to spend time throughout the program,” he stated. “That performs a giant issue however, general, coach Frye does an excellent job. I believe the depth that he brings to his group actually brings out that group camaraderie they usually play for him like he cares about them. We speak frequently, so I really feel comfy with him and with him with the ability to develop me into a primary spherical draft choose.”
ALABAMA
“Clearly I used to be very, very massive on Alabama earlier than the teaching change,” Sanders stated. “I imagine that that program has a stamp on it and it is all the time going to be a legendary program. To know you can play for the College of Alabama and the historical past throughout the program is wonderful. With the brand new teaching employees, it has been nice as a result of I actually like coach DeBoer and every little thing he brings to the desk so far as recruiting and his teaching model. I really feel like the best way he did issues at Washington actually suits my teaching model, the best way he recruits, the best way his tackles look, and issues like that. The way in which he broke it all the way down to me and the way I will help his program actually resonated with me and my household after we received to fulfill with him again in January. From the time he received the job he let me understand how massive of an asset I used to be to them and their program to make them profitable and to maintain that Alabama custom going.
“Constructing these relationships goes to be massive for me as a result of I am simply actually, actually massive on relationships and trusting folks as a result of I come from a really tight knit household and it is actually simply me and my mother and father and my siblings,” he stated. “They’ve completed an incredible job establishing themselves and telling me they perceive there’s change, they let me know that they are nonetheless there and I am nonetheless a precedence for this 2025 class.”
