Latest recruiting buzz around major five-star Ohio State target could signal bad news is coming

In less than two weeks, the biggest remaining domino left to fall in the 2025 college football recruiting class will make his decision. David Sanders Jr. is set to select the program he will play for the next three to four years on August 17.

Just a couple of weeks ago, it looked like it was Ohio State that was carrying the momentum to land the elite tackle prospect. Now, it looks like that may not be the case any longer.

After feeling like the Buckeyes could be the spot, On3’s Steve Wiltfong says that if he had to guess today, it would be Tennessee that lands Sanders .

"So I think when I'm talking to all of my sources and adding up the intel, my best guess, today, would be Tennessee," said Wiltfong. "But I've also at times had my best guess on Ohio State. And then even early in the process, you looked at Georgia. I never had Clemson in the one-hole (for Sanders). Who knows, maybe we're sleeping on Georgia. But my best guess today would be Tennessee."

Sanders is the No. 2 overall player in the country and the No. 1 offensive tackle in the class. Ohio State’s biggest remaining target is Sanders and it would be the cherry on top of what is a great class they are set to bring in.

Now, it appears that Ohio State may not be landing a verbal commitment from Sanders in a couple of weeks and that it will be the Vols. Still, the Buckeyes have the No. 1 class in the country and could add a couple of other pieces.

Ohio State’s 2025 verbal commits

• QB Tavien St. Clair
• CB Devin Sanchez
• CB Na’eem Offord
• OT Carter Lowe
• LB Tarvos Alford
• RB Bo Jackson
• DE Zahir Mathis
• DL London Merritt
• TE Nate Roberts
• WR De’Zie Jones
• S DeShawn Stewart
• LB Eli Lee
• S Cody Haddad
• S Faheem Delane
• WR Quincy Porter
• RB Isaiah West
• WR Bodpegn Miller
• OL Jake Cook
• DE Zion Grady
• TE Brody Lennon
• DL Trajen Odom
• DL Maxwell Roy
• LB Riley Pettijohn
• DL Jarquez Carter

Related: Former five-star quarterback that Ohio State pulled away from Alabama doubled down on his big decision