After much waiting, former LSU offensive tackle Lance Heard has committed to Tennessee football.
Heard is one of the top players in the portal, and he was a top target for the Vols. He fills an immediate need for Tennessee on the offensive line, and the former five-star will likely be an upgrade on the offensive line. With Gerald Mincey’s departure, Tennessee was in the market for an offensive tackle.
Heard will likely play left tackle after video of John Campbell Jr. working out at right tackle circulated on social media.
Heard entered the portal seeking playing time, but it wasn’t because he couldn’t get on the field. Instead, he was behind two All-SEC caliber tackles at LSU. Heard was often the first lineman off the bench for the Tigers.
The 6-foot-6, 340-pound lineman graded out as a 67.5 on PFF for run blocking, and a 75.0 pass blocker in about 100 snaps this season. That is higher than Mincey, who graded out as one of the worst in the lineman in the SEC.
Penalties were an issue for Heard in his limited work, but there often wasn’t a drop-off when he came in. He did play most of his snaps at right tackle.
Where Heard ranks
Every recruiting outlet had Heard as a five-star prospect out of high school except ESPN.
247Sports ranked Heard as the No. 16 overall prospect in the 2023 class. He also ranks as the No. 3 offensive tackle and the No. 2 prospect out of Louisiana.
On3 ranked Heard as the No. 11 prospect overall and the No. 2 offensive tackle. He also ranked as the No. 2 offensive tackle.
Rivals ranked Heard as the No. 27 prospect in the 2023 class, and the No. 3 offensive tackle. He was also the No. 2 prospect out of Louisiana according to Rivals.
ESPN has Heard as the No. 51 prospect in the 2023 class and the No. 3 offensive tackle. He was also the No. 3 prospect from Louisiana.
