Monday, October 14, 2024
HomesportHow the recruitment process for offensive lineman David Sanders Jr. evolved, from...

How the recruitment process for offensive lineman David Sanders Jr. evolved, from early offers to four finalists and a commitment

Date:

Related stories

We’re about to discover the location of the five-star attack wizard. David Sanders Jr. to Charlotte (North Carolina) Providence Day He will play college basketball. Sanders, the No. 1 candidate in His positionwill He announced his decision live on air. on 247Sports YouTube Channel/CBS Sports Headquarters at Saturday at 1:15 PM ET.

the Four finalists: Georgia, Nebraska, Ohio State and Tennessee.

How did we get here? Here’s a look at the evolution. Sanders recruitment.

the First show For Sanders, who was Best performance In December 2021 at the FBU Freshman All-American Bowl, he came from Michigan After his eighth season, by the end of his freshman season, he had been offered by nine Power Four schools, and that number had grown to nearly 20 before his sophomore season (including top four finalists at the University of Georgia and Tennessee).

Two years ago, in August 2022, Sanders told 247Sports ahead of his sophomore season: “Georgia and Michigan have done a really good job… North Carolina, North Carolina, South CarolinaTennessee [are others]”.”

Clemson She made waves when she crowned Sanders as the recipient of her first 2025 bid in July 2023, two months after taking office. 247Sports’ First Five Stars of 2025But the 2023 Tigers season has not done any good for the program. Dabo Sweeney He fired his offensive line coach, Thomas AustinClemson quickly became an afterthought.

It was Georgia who really took control as the front-runner in their sophomore year last season. Kirby Smart He looked like he was ready to reach the finish line in parts of Sanders’ recruitment.

See also  A season championship provides additional incentive for Haliburton and the Pacers

Clemson’s new offensive line coach, Matt Lukebrought the Tigers back into contention. And after Consecutive visits In March, there was a buzz about Clemson’s rise to the top of the rankings. But the buzz didn’t last long.

Tennessee got it on campus. consecutive times Four months ago, on April 6th and 12th, the Vols announced that they had no interest in finishing in the top five. They were doing their best to become The Summit rival.

Ohio State Stolen some momentum In May. Official visits To Clemson, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama In June, Sanders visited Ohio (and made official visits to South Carolina and Nebraska in April and May, respectively), and issued a joint statement. The first four Georgia, Nebraska, Ohio State, and Tennessee in early July. Returned to Nebraska and Tennessee the last week of July.

Sanders began his preseason camp at Providence Day playing tight end and defensive back. But he ended camp at left cornerback and never looked back—Sanders was the varsity team’s starting left cornerback by the first week of his freshman season.

“When we started doing pass blocking, [in preseason camp]“I was really good at blocking, and that got me interested in left tackle and I fell in love with it,” Sanders told 247Sports in 2022.

(Photo: 247Sports)

Now the hottest recruiting name in his class, Sanders will look to wrap up his recruitment as an uncommitted prospect on Saturday.

Everything that comes with being a highly sought-after prospect at left back from a recruiting perspective will subside the rest of this month with Providence Day looks like it’s starting its season. With a bang. The Chargers will play defending Class 4A state champion Matthews (NC) Weddington next week at Bank of America Stadium, home of the Carolina Panthers.

See also  Live updates of Messi and Inter Miami vs. Chicago Fire: results, highlights

Of course, as October approaches and November approaches December, Early Signing PeriodCuriosity would be a natural position—does Sanders have any plans to visit one or more of the finalists who couldn’t reach him on Saturday, or has anyone else made a similar move? That’s how recruiting works—and it’s not a reflection on Sanders.

But for now, it’s all about Sanders’ big day — the end and the beginning.

It’s a start that will surely make one fan base excited to know that a true left tackle with major NFL potential will be protecting their quarterback for years to come.

Stay tuned to 247Sports for exclusive on-site coverage, before and after Sanders’ announcement.

Latest stories