Earlier this week, we reported that Tennessee is using its NIL funds to prioritize retaining talent and adding talent to fill specific needs. With the addition of Notre Dame Fighting Irish transfer Sam Pendleton, it looks like the interior of the offensive line is an even bigger need than we thought it would be.
Pendleton, who will be a redshirt sophomore in 2025, committed to the Vols Friday morning. He entered the transfer portal on Wednesday, two days after the Irish fell to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the national championship game. At 6’4″ 310 pounds, he is another guard.
So what makes the move look desperate?
Let’s start with why Pendleton would choose the Vols. He started the first seven games of last season at Notre Dame. Although he moved to the bench after Billy Schrauth returned from injury, the combination of Irish linemen entering the pros and hitting the portal meant Pendleton was likely to be a staple of the line next year.
As a result, Pendleton choosing to leave Notre Dame makes no sense, unless Tennessee opened the NIL checkbook to make him an offer he can’t refuse. Why, though, would the Vols open up the checkbook if they prefer to use the money to maintain the talent they already have?
Josh Heupel is concerned about the interior of the line.
Losing Cooper Mays and Javontez Spraggins with Andrej Karic’s status in question raised a lot of questions about Tennessee’s interior blocking. The Vols’ center and guards paved the way for Dylan Sampson to become the SEC Player of the Year, and it’s a crucial part of Josh Heupel’s offense working at full strength.
William Satterwhite is receiving a lot of noise about being able to step in at center or guard. Karic is fighting for a medical redshirt to get another year of eligibility. Arizona Wildcats transfer Wendell Moe Jr. chose the Vols back in December and will also fill a void at guard.
You would think, if Heupel was building around his high school talent, he’d be all in on other interior offensive linemen being able to replace what was lost, even if Karic isn’t able to come back. Clearly, though, he, Joey Halzle and Glen Elarbee think they need extra help there.
Clearly, that isn’t the case. Otherwise, two of the four transfers Tennessee has picked up in the portal this offseason wouldn’t be guards. Maybe Pendleton is a rare talent they couldn’t pass up. He was solid his first year blocking for Notre Dame last year. It’s still clear they paid to get him.
A product of Reagan High School in Pfafftown, N.C., Pendleton was a four-star across the board coming out of high school. He has experience at guard and center, so he and Satterwhite do give Heupel options now for finding the right player to replace Mays. Simply put, regardless of the desperation, Pendleton should be elite.
