My read, admittedly from a Moran:
Seemed like he was committed, All Voll in the biggest way on personal side, agreed to in principle on business side. He stormed the field vs Bama, he peer recruited, he did the emotional commitment. He was all in, I think he left the contract(s) particulars for the adults in his life.
Then leading up to early signing day, couldn't get to agreeable terms for one reason or another. VQ and national writers mentioned dotting I's and crossing t's multiple times. AP said it wasn't even the kid driving this. Seems like the agent was the one mucking it up, and agent/Vols came to an impasse. Don't even know if he and his family went to OSU to force the issue or if they were truly evaluating a backup because of a standstill on terms and had to start on a backup plan.
We all read different bits and takes about outrageous terms -- wanting all the money upfront, no tie downs to Knoxville or UT. Seems heavily weighted to get the agent his cut, and have the option to get more cuts in the future. Perhaps our side figured out what agent's magic number was and paid him, while preserving terms that were agreeable for Spire/Vols as well. Seems like that's what happened early this week - hashed it out when they got back from OSU and put a smile back on Sanders' face.
However, I am moran.