Imo, this recruitment is the most impressive thing this staff has done other than beat Alabama.
From the moment they identified him as their target foundational recruit of the class, their approach has been consistent and comprehensive. We are at the forefront of NIL but also educating kids’ families on doing their due diligence around it (as mentioned by Gaston’s mom), even for kids who don’t end up here. It builds trust, especially with great parents like the Sanders.
They’ve built an excellent class while managing to use discretion with NIL, and while we have essentially everything to offer that perennial contenders like OSU have, we sealed it with a fat NIL deal, reportedly structured more favorably than other schools can offer. Soon we’ll be able to sell the on-field success, but until then using our elite resources is super smart and prudent when it comes to kids like this. In my view this has been executed near perfectly by CJH and staff, and it gives me confidence that we can land any top ranked kid if we approach it this way, no matter what position he plays.
Happy David Sanders Day, and go Vols.