Tennessee landed a much-needed offensive lineman from the transfer portal. That doesn’t mean Sam Pendleton will immediately improve the Vols up front.
There is no question that landing Pendleton, who transferred to Tennessee from Notre Dame, was a significant pickup. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound offensive lineman is rated as a four-star transfer. Pendleton started seven games at left guard last season for the Fighting Irish before losing his starting job in October after other injured linemen returned to the rotation. Now, it’s off to Knoxville.
While Tennessee is putting its NIL money on Pendleton, I’m not so sure that he’ll be as needed as some people think. Per various sources, the Vols’ offensive line recruiting from the high school ranks is close to paying dividends with players that have developed and grown within the program.
That’s a better option than filling in spots in the transfer portal – as long as the play is comparable. In other words, if I’m Tennessee coach Josh Heupel, I’d rather a current Tennessee player snag one of the vacant starting positions on the offensive line instead of just handing a spot over to a transfer, no matter how highly he’s rated.
Don’t be surprised if guard Shamurad Umarov or tackle Larry Johnson III nail down a starting position during the offseason. Off The Hook Sports has been told that both have practiced at a high level, especially last season, and center William Satterwhite has also performed well during practice in backing up departed starting center Cooper Mays. A strong offseason could easily land Satterwhite a starting role.
Umarov and Satterwhite were high school signees. Johnson is a transfer from Hutchinson (Kansas) Community College. That isn’t high school, but it’s a bit more traditional. In some ways, so is Pendleton.
The best thing about Pendleton is that he has three years of eligibility remaining. Therefore, if he’s not a starter this season, all is not lost. Pendleton can develop within Tennessee’s program just like the more traditional prospects turned Vols.
Tennessee will be forced to replace at least three offensive line starters from last year’s team and possibly four. Mays, right guard Javontez Spraggins and right tackle Jon Campbell, Jr. are out of eligibility. Starting left guard Andrej Karic is currently petitioning the NCAA for another year of eligibility. Johnson is a rising junior. Satterwhite will only be a redshirt freshman this season. Umarov will be a sophomore.
Offensive line is considered to be a weak spot for the Vols. However, I’m wondering if Tennessee will be better up front with an influx of talent, such as Pendleton, fellow transfer Wendell Moe Jr. from Arizona, and current players further establishing themselves.
A rising sophomore, Moe also has more eligibility than your average one-and-done transfer. I don’t think that’s by coincidence. The stronger the bond between program and staff, the more likely a player is to play at a high level. Also, Tennessee (not-so) suddenly has some depth, which breeds competition.
The Vols overhauled their secondary last season and I never doubted they’d be better in the defensive backfield than they were in 2023. I was right.
I’m not a 100-percent certain that will be the case with Tennessee’s offensive line, but I’m not convinced that the Vols will have a down year up front.
In fact, if I had to, I’d bet the Vols will be better under Heupel on the offensive line in the coming years than anyone would have ever imagined – thanks to players who have spent a bit more time in orange.
