In case you haven’t been listening, Tennessee needs an offensive tackle for the 2024 season. Enter Lance Heard.
The Vols picked up a massive prospect when former five-star offensive lineman Lance Heard committed to Tennessee over the weekend. It was hardly a surprise. The 6-foot-6, 340-pound prospect had long been thought to be leaning towards Tennessee. Oklahoma was the only notable competition. Although it’s just one player, Heard gives Tennessee’s 2024 class a much different feel.
Heard started one game as a true freshman last season for LSU so the thinking is that he’ll be ready to start at tackle for the Vols this season. Other than quarterback, tackles are about as valuable as any other position on the field and Heard is one of the best available. Under Tennessee coach Josh Heupel, the Vols have only signed three five-star players out of high school. Heard would have made it four had he signed with Tennessee out of high school.
Heard, who played right tackle for LSU, could play either left or right tackle for the Vols, who have moved their starting left tackle to right tackle before the previous two seasons. Senior John Campbell Jr., started for the Vols at left tackle last season, but recently posted pictures of him playing right tackle in social media. It seems Heard is slotted for left tackle given how the Vols have handled their offensive linemen under Heupel.
Heard’s commitment gives the Vols’ 2024 transfer class a totally different feel. First, he’s Tennessee’s most highly rated incoming transfer. Second, he fills a position of need. Lastly, Heard won’t be just a one-year wonder. He’ll have four years to play three seasons. That’s not incredibly common among transfers, who are usually looking for a one-time, NIL boost for a season or were just completely lost at their previous school and largely unproven. Heard is neither of those. He has played in the SEC and he has plenty of eligibility remaining.
Tennessee was in one heckuva predicament as it assembled its 2024 transfer class. The Vols had to pay up to keep several players, led by center Cooper Mays, so funds were a bit tighter than usual on the transfer trail. That meant the Vols had to budget for Heard and hope the quiet prospect would fill the void left open for him and take Heupel up on the cash that was set aside. Had Heard spurned the Vols, Heupel would be carrying NIL cash home. Trust me. He wants to spend every penny.
Heard, who played in every game for LSU last season, changes the Vols’ offensive line outlook if he even comes close to living up to his ability. With Gerald Mincey transferring to Kentucky, there was serious concern that the Vols’ offensive line would be a question mark, if not a weakness, this season. Now, Tennessee’s offensive line might be a strength. That would help one Vol more than any other.
Despite all of the hype around quarterback Nico Iamaleava, he can’t protect himself nor run block to set up a ground game to compliment his unique passing skills. Heard should be able to handle that. Heard gives the Vols a prospect to build an offensive line around, especially after Mays’ eligibility is up this season.
There is no question that expectations are high for Heard. Tennessee and its fan base will be expecting the second coming of Darnell Wright, the former Tennessee offensive lineman who was a first-round pick by the Chicago Bears last season. However, Heard doesn’t have to be that good to have an impact. He just has to be better than Mincey, which shouldn’t be that difficult. According to PFF, Mincey graded out as one of the worst offensive linemen in the SEC.
Speaking of Wright, how much does his draft selection help the Vols? A lot. No one is going to doubt Heupel’s ability to produce top-flight quarterbacks and receivers. Now, there’s a growing resume of offensive linemen that have succeded under Heupel at Tennessee.
How much will Heard’s impact be felt in 2024? That remains to be seen. However, as much as the Vols need him right away, there’s something to be said for a player who is more foundational than a one-year fix. Heard isn’t a band-aid. He’s a pillar that the Vols offense can rest upon this season and well into the future. Surely, the rest of the SEC was listening.
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We need more o lineman and d lineman and ss!!!!!!!!