After Ohio State’s long recruitment of its top target in the 2025 class, Charlotte (N.C.) five-star offensive tackle David Sanders Jr. (6-6, 290) has committed to Tennessee.
The Buckeyes seemingly went down to the wire, making his top four schools along with the Volunteers, Georgia and Nebraska, but couldn’t secure his commitment.
Sanders is the No. 2 overall player in the class of 2025, and the No. 1 offensive tackle in the class according to 247Sports composite ranking.
Missing on Sanders continues a trend the Buckeyes have been victim to over the last few years, coming close on elite offensive linemen but missing on them, as they did with 2024 prospects Brandon Baker, who went to Texas, and Jordan Seaton, who is at Colorado.
The last five-star offensive lineman to commit to Ohio State was Donovan Jackson in the class of 2021 when Greg Studrawa was the offensive line coach.
Sanders would have been a huge get for the Buckeyes 2025 recruiting class that is already ranked No. 1 in college football and would have made the offensive line group in the class very strong with Toledo Whitmer four-star offensive tackle Carter Lowe (6-5, 290). He is the No. 50 player in the class.
Ohio State is still targeting Upper Marlboro (Md.) Riverdale Baptist three-star interior offensive lineman Jayvon McFadden (6-5, 300) on the line in this cycle. He is the 468th-ranked player in the class, but to get elite talent in 2025 at this point at the position, the Buckeyes will need to flip a prospect before signing day.
