Ah, sweet Regina George and the Plastics gossip, full of sass and Burn Book drama of today’s college football recruiting. CFB has always thrived on intrigue and whispers, but with NIL dollars and ego-driven fandoms in the mix, the stakes have been raised to Mexican Telanova levels. Case in point: the curious saga of 5-star offensive lineman David Sanders Jr. and his visit to the Indiana-Ohio State game last week.
On paper, Sanders’ trip to Columbus was billed as a rousing success, a huge recruiting coup. Glowing write-ups like this one reassured a Buckeye Nation that the future is bright. But zoom in, dear readers. Yes, on those hands. The subtle flick of fingers, the casual pose—David Sanders wasn’t just snapping a photo; he was sending coded signals back to Knoxville. The Vols called, and Sanders clearly answered.
The hand gestures? That wasn’t just a casual pose for the Ohio State faithful. Oh, no. was Sanders spelling out the dashes and dots of “VOLS” like some sort of gridiron spy. For those unfamiliar with the art of Morse code (or, apparently, Tennessee recruiting tactics), let’s break it down:
- V: Dot-dot-dot-dash.
- O: Dash-dash-dash.
- L: Dot-dash-dot-dot.
- S: Dot-dot-dot.
Now picture this: What does it spell? Just a little love for the school he’s 100% committed to, a harmless nod to Rocky Top while still playing the part of a recruit soaking in the Horseshoe atmosphere. It’s not sabotage. It’s not espionage. It’s a kid having fun. And let’s be real—what better way to stay in the headlines than to get fans talking about the “hidden meanings” in a photo?
And let’s not pretend the SEC vs. B1G debate wasn’t running through his mind the whole time. Sure, Ohio State has its perks: elite facilities, NFL pipelines, and the occasional snow-globe game against Michigan. But this is the SEC we’re talking about—the absolute summit of college football dominance. The grind. The grit. THE KING. The glamour of weekly heavyweight matchups. Why would Sanders trade that for a conference where the toughest thing he’ll face all season is a November chill and some blitzing linebacker from Northwestern? Exactly.
Even Caleb Downs, who transferred from Alabama to Ohio State, noted the difference in preparation between the conferences. In a conversation with Nick Saban, Downs mentioned that at Alabama, they were “more well-prepared for games like that” due to the constant competition in the SEC. He pointed out that at Ohio State, after several easy games, they “weren’t really well-prepared to have to go play a 60-minute game against a good team.” ( Or against a poor to mid Indiana team either).
Tennessee (and SEC) fans are surely cackling over this one. Their prized recruit takes a weekend detour to Columbus, codes up some Vols love in Morse (or “hand flicks,” if you will), and makes headlines in Buckeye land. Meanwhile, the Tennessee faithful are sipping Ole Smoky Mountain Java Shine and waiting for Sanders to remind the world that Knoxville is home sweet home. What’s a Buckeye fan to do? Watch helplessly as one of the most coveted O-linemen in the country “signals” his real intentions?
Let’s face it: this is the new world of NIL. Recruits like Sanders are playing a game of leverage—flashing the symbols, stirring the pot, and smiling for the cameras—all while ensuring their eventual destination gets the message (and the money) loud and clear. Ohio State, don’t take it personally. Sanders was never yours to lose. He’s just here for the Joel Klatt, a few NIL whispers, and maybe a little trolling on the way back to Rocky Top.
So, Buckeye Nation, prepare yourselves. The hand gesture was just the first dot in a Morse code masterpiece. When Sanders eventually posts his commitment (likely with an orange heart and a wink), just know this: the signals were always there. You just weren’t fluent in “VOLS.”
Bravo, Sanders. Bravo.
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