Tennessee will have four new starters here.
We’ve talked a lot about how different the Tennessee offense could look in 2025, and no position was hit harder with roster turnover than the offensive line. Glen Elarbee had plenty put on his plate this offseason, losing a handful of multi-year contributors up front.
Tennessee knew was was coming and quickly hit the transfer portal to find some experience. Piecing all that new talent together with guys that you’re trying to develop will be a different story though, particularly with a new face under center — and even at the center position itself.
Several program veterans exit
Tennessee enjoyed consistency up front, particularly on the interior, for the past few seasons. Josh Heupel hasn’t hardly even had to think about the center position since arriving in Knoxville, with Cooper Mays holding that spot down for so long. The quarterback of the offensive line, Mays was the unquestioned leader and gutted out several big performances through the years as he battled through injuries.
His running mate at right guard, Javontez Spraggins, was by his side for much of that run. Both have exhausted their eligibility, ushering in a new era up front for Tennessee. Right tackle John Campbell also exited, along with key depth pieces Dayne Davis and Jackson Lampley. Former starter at left guard Andrej Karic lost an appeal with the NCAA for another season of eligibility.
So not only do you lose four starters up front, Tennessee lost a couple of key swing players who Elarbee could trust in a pinch. Let’s be honest though, especially after sitting through the 17 degree night in Columbus, Tennessee could use a bit of a talent infusion up front. While the replacements might be a whole lot younger, the upside of this group might just be significantly higher going forward.
New blood up front
First things first, Heupel and Elarbee knew they had to add experience. The roster was full of guys that they had recruited, but very few with any significant playing experience. Enter Wendell Moe Jr. from Arizona. The two year starter will seamlessly slide into a starting guard role for Tennessee, solving one key issue for Elarbee. A 6-5, 335 pound powerhouse, he should fit in nicely with the Vols’ stout rushing attack.
Tennessee followed that up by adding Sam Pendleton from Notre Dame. He forced his way into the starting lineup as a redshirt freshmen with the Irish, playing at both guard and center. Either option could be his landing spot in Knoxville and that answer will likely be figured out at some point this fall.
And perhaps the biggest addition to the puzzle — five-star freshman David Sanders. The top five overall player stuck with his Tennessee commitment despite a late push from Ohio State. He’s likely to be rewarded with an instant starting spot this fall. With Lance Heard returning to his left tackle spot, Sanders and his elite athleticism make sense to slide right into the right tackle role. Sanders generated plenty of buzz during the spring and should continue to get better throughout the summer as he gets on the nutrition plan to add some weight.
What we think we know for sure
LT: Lance Heard
LG: Wendell Moe
C: ?
RG: ?
RT: David Sanders
The question that remains: Center
With three starters that appear to be set, the rest will seemingly be determined by whoever emerges at center. That could be Pendleton, that could also be William Satterwhite. Elarbee started working Satterwhite at center last season which likely ended up pushing backup center Vysen Lang (Troy) out the door.
Can Satterwhite win the job in the middle? If so that could push Pendleton out to the right guard spot. If Pendleton wins the center job does Satterwhite kick out to guard? Or does Tennessee go with a guy like Sham Umarov or even Jesse Perry? Perry generated plenty of praise from the staff during the spring for his development.
Building out the depth
Tennessee does seem to have a top six or seven heading into the fall, but it remains to be seen who will be next in line. As we all know, building out that depth to eight or nine guys is key with so many injuries popping up throughout the season. Again, Tennessee has options there, but not a lot of known commodities on the roster.
Guys like Bennett Warren, Trevor Duncan, Brian Grant, Max Anderson, Jeremias Heard, etc. — we may not get a sense of the pecking order here until the ETSU matchup. But building out that depth is always a priority and could pay dividends come late in the season when everyone is seemingly banged up.