Tennessee Vols transfer addition becomes an instant fan favorite after dropping the best quote of the spring
The Tennessee Vols made a huge addition earlier this offseason by landing Notre Dame transfer offensive lineman Sam Pendleton. Pendleton, a former four-star recruit from Lawsonville, NC, started seven games for the Fighting Irish as a redshirt freshman in 2024. The 6-foot-4 interior offensive lineman met with reporters on Wednesday for the first time since […]
The Tennessee Vols made a huge addition earlier this offseason by landing Notre Dame transfer offensive lineman Sam Pendleton.
Pendleton, a former four-star recruit from Lawsonville, NC, started seven games for the Fighting Irish as a redshirt freshman in 2024.
The 6-foot-4 interior offensive lineman met with reporters on Wednesday for the first time since transferring to Tennessee and he instantly became a fan favorite while talking about protecting his teammates in the backfield.
“One thing I will say is that I care about my guys,” said Pendleton. “I have a real issue with people touching my quarterback, running backs, stuff like that. If you’re in the backfield, you’re my family. Especially if you’re on my line, you’re even more my family.
"That’s kind of my mindset when I walk on the field. That’s kind of how I play the game. I’m blocking to protect the man beside me and the man behind me, not for personal growth. You keep everybody healthy, you win ball games.”
Pendleton made sure to point out that Tennessee's entire offensive line carries that same mentality.
"That's very transparent in the room — we all, as a group, have real issues with people touching the guys in the backfield," noted Pendleton.
That's the kind of mentality that an offensive lineman has to have in order to thrive in the SEC. And Pendleton certainly takes pride in carrying that mentality to the field.
For now, Pendleton is expected to start at right guard for the Volunteers in 2025, though he also noted that he's been taking some snaps at center (Redshirt freshman William Satterwhite appears to be the early favorite to replace Cooper Mays as Tennessee's starting center).
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