Insider says it sounds like one program is out for 2025 five-star OL David Sanders Jr

A Tennessee Vols recruiting insider said on Friday morning that it sounds like one program is "out" in the recruiting battle for 2025 five-star offensive lineman David Sanders Jr.

VolQuest's Brent Hubbs joined 104.5 The Zone's Ramon, Kayla, and Will on Friday morning to discuss Tennessee athletics.

Hubbs led off the conversation with an update on Sanders' recruitment, suggesting that Ohio State, a program that was previously viewed as Tennessee's top competition for the five-star recruit, appears to be "out".

Sanders, who will visit Nebraska and Tennessee this weekend, is scheduled to announce his commitment on August 17.

"They (Sanders and his family) have been very, very thorough in their approach to this whole recruiting process," said Hubbs. "They're not taking visits for the joy of taking visits. This is [to] answer any final question that you have about those schools...it sounds like Ohio State is out. They're not getting a visit here. I don't think he's going to Nebraska just to say 'hey, I want to go back to Lincoln, Nebraska'. I think he's going to try to get some questions answered that he still has. And then he's coming to Tennessee for any final questions and a final visit with Josh Heupel, with (Vols offensive line coach) Glen Elarbee.

"These visits here are not about getting in a group of recruits that are going on a tour and walking around or playing a video game. This is very specific to whatever final questions he has before he makes his decision. And I think he's getting closer to a decision. I just think he wants to verify a couple of things, check out a couple of things at both places before he arrives at the final decision, which is obviously coming up here in a couple of weeks."

Numerous teams have surged at various times during Sanders' recruitment. But Tennessee has been the one constant that's always been near the top. That seems to indicate that the Vols will be the choice for Sanders next month when he announces his commitment.

Nebraska, however, is a very real contender in this battle. We can't rule out that Sanders could land with the Cornhuskers (all it takes is one visit where things feel "right").

Tennessee has done everything possible to win this recruiting battle. Ultimately, though, this will be Sanders' decision. And the ball is in his court.

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