Tennessee tackle David Sanders is set to start as a freshman after gaining 38 pounds. He can tell the difference in preseason practice.
Tennessee football offensive tackle David Sanders took a kick step backward, anchored his weight and prepared to collide with a hard-rushing Dominic Bailey.
Sanders, a five-star freshman, expected to be tipped over and tossed aside during the one-on-one drill in preseason practice on July 31. That’s what happened in the same drill in the spring against Bailey, a sixth-year senior defensive end.
But Sanders was pleasantly surprised when Bailey was stopped in his tracks. The 38 pounds Sanders had gained in the weight room over the offseason made the difference.
“(I am) more powerful, moving weight at a faster rate of speed. And now it’s actually translating to the field. All my hard work paid off,” said Sanders, who bulked up his 6-foot-6 frame from 270 pounds when he enrolled in January to 308 pounds in preseason practice.
Weight gain is a typical storyline in preseason, especially for freshmen going through their first college strength and conditioning program.
But Sanders is a special case. He was already ranked the No. 1 offensive tackle in the 2025 recruiting class, and all that was keeping him off the field was his high school body.
Now he’s carrying a developed SEC frame, and the Vols intend to utilize it immediately.
Sanders is practicing as the starting right tackle less than a month until Tennessee’s season opener against Syracuse in Atlanta on Aug. 30 (noon ET, ABC).
How David Sanders dealt with expectations that he'd start
Sanders’ hold on a starting position isn’t surprising. His only serious competition was 2024 backup tackle Larry Johnson, but he transferred to Colorado after spring practice.
Redshirt freshman Jesse Perry could’ve been another contender, but he’s starting at right guard. Returning starter Lance Heard is at left tackle, and former four-star recruit Bennett Warren is his backup.
“It’s an opportunity. But I didn’t feel any pressure from the coaching staff or from myself,” Sanders said. “Nobody ever came to me and said, ‘You’ve got to be our starter.’ And, yes, I’m running with the (first team), but I still have to come in every single day and work because your spot can be taken by anybody.”
How David Sanders is following Trey Smith, Darnell Wright
Sanders would follow some notable five-star freshmen who started at offensive tackle for the Vols.
Five-star Trey Smith started all 12 games at tackle and guard as a freshman in 2017. He won two Super Bowls and earned a Pro Bowl selection with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Five-star Wanya Morris started 12 games at left tackle as a freshman in 2019, and finished his college career at Oklahoma. He was a third-round pick of the Chiefs and won one Super Bowl.
Five-star Darnell Wright started seven games at right tackle and right guard as a freshman in 2019. He was a first-round pick of the Chicago Bears and an NFL All-Rookie team selection.
How David Sanders finds empathy from Lance Heard
Sanders has embraced the lofty expectations that come with a five-star rating. And he’s found support and empathy from Heard, who was a five-star recruit and the No. 3 offensive tackle in the 2023 class.
Heard signed with LSU and transferred to Tennessee, where he started last season. He’s experienced the highs and lows of being tabbed a five-star recruit.
“(Heard) played as a freshman, so he knows what type of expectations are on you. He was a five-star coming out of high school just like me, so he knows people are expecting you to come in as a freshman and perform,” Sanders said. “People are not looking for excuses on why you’re not playing or why you’re not performing at a high level.
“So he’s just keeping my head level and letting me know that it’s going to be OK.”
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email [email protected]. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing atknoxnews.com/subscribe.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football: David Sanders gains 38 pounds, earns starting job
Category: General Sports
