On Sunday, Michigan football hosts the annual BBQ at the Big House recruiting event. While it doesn’t have quite the panache as usual, that doesn’t mean there aren’t big names on hand.
The lack of publicity this year is likely due to the 2024 class being mostly wrapped up. There aren’t many 2024 prospects scheduled to visit that aren’t already committed to the class. Thus, it’s the 2025 class that’s getting the attention.
Of the visitors in Ann Arbor on Sunday, none is bigger than 2025 Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day five-star offensive tackle David Sanders.
After taking visits at prominent SEC schools in recent days, there was question whether Sanders — rated the No. 1 player in the country according to 247Sports’ proprietary rankings — would make it to Ann Arbor. Given this could be Michigan’s only shot, it was incumbent upon the Wolverines to get him on campus.
According to The Michigan Insider’s Brice Marich, Sanders did, indeed, make it to the BBQ.
.@247Sports’ No. 1 overall player in the 2025 class, Charlotte (NC) Providence Day five-star offensive tackle David Sanders has arrived at #Michigan’s BBQ at the Big House.
High School teammate of future Wolverines, QB Jadyn Davis and WR Channing Goodwin.
📱IG: clt_bigdave pic.twitter.com/S7IqscKPWs
— Brice Marich (@BriceMarich) July 30, 2023
247Sports’ Andrew Ivins with the scouting report:
An athletic offensive tackle prospect with an extremely high ceiling given measurables and movement patterns. Over 6-foot-5 and equipped with arms that stretch over 36 inches. On the lighter side now, but has plenty of time to add mass and has already posted impressive markers in the weight room for a youngster as he can power clean 335 pounds. Very nimble for someone with such long limbs as he can quickly set up for battle and then refortify, if needed. Might own a wiry frame now, but has a surprisingly strong punch and understands how to find leverage before unlocking his hips and trying to displace pass rushers with his explosive lower half. Carved out a starting role as a 9th grader before freshman campaign was derailed by a femur injury. However, rebounded in a big way as a sophomore and anchored the left side of the line for a Providence Day program that won its first state title in 10 years. Must keep progressing and continue to fill out, but should be viewed as one of the top corner-protectors in the 2025 cycle. Likely going to need some time to get adjusted to the speed of big-time college football, but has the skill set to emerge as a multi-year starter at left tackle for a contender. Top 32 upside given his reach and testing profile.
Michigan does have one (or two) very strong in with Sanders. He’s high school teammates with two pledges in the 2024 class: quarterback Jadyn Davis and wide receiver Channing Goodwin. If that duo can effectively recruit Sanders while he’s away from campus, it certainly could aid the Wolverines in their efforts — that along with the offensive line being the maize and blue’s strongest point.
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