National college football analyst points out strange streak for the Tennessee Vols under Josh Heupel that will end in 2025
An odd streak for the Tennessee Vols will almost certainly come to an end for the program in 2025. On3's Andy Staples pointed out this week that Tennessee currently has one of the "strangest stats" in college football. Staples noted that Tennessee hasn't had an offensive lineman start a game that Josh Heupel and his […]
An odd streak for the Tennessee Vols will almost certainly come to an end for the program in 2025.
On3's Andy Staples pointed out this week that Tennessee currently has one of the "strangest stats" in college football.
Staples noted that Tennessee hasn't had an offensive lineman start a game that Josh Heupel and his staff signed out of high school.
"It seems likely that one of the nation’s strangest stats will be retired when the Vols open the season against Syracuse in Atlanta," wrote Staples. "No offensive lineman that the Heupel staff recruited out of high school has started for Tennessee under Heupel. Thus far, everyone has been either a Pruitt signee or a transfer."
Tennessee will likely have two offensive linemen starting this fall that the current coaching staff signed out of high school.
True freshman David Sanders Jr, a former five-star recruit, is expected to start at right tackle for the Volunteers in 2025.
Additionally, redshirt freshman William Satterwhite appears to be the early favorite to take over for Cooper Mays as Tennessee's starting center.
The other three starting spots on the Vols' offensive line will likely be occupied by transfer additions (LSU transfer Lance Heard at left tackle, Arizona transfer Wendell Moe at left guard, and Notre Dame transfer Sam Pendleton at right guard).
I know there's been a lot of talk about Tennessee's ability to develop offensive linemen out of high school under Heupel and offensive line coach Glen Elarbee. And most of that talk is due to the strange streak that Staples pointed out. While I understand the criticism, I'm not sure it's totally fair. It's harder than ever in this current era of college football, due to the transfer portal and hefty NIL deals, to build depth along the offensive line. Young players (across the sport) that might receive starting opportunities later in their career often leave for an NIL payday if they don't play within their first two seasons on campus.
There's no doubt that it's a "prove it year" for Tennessee's offensive line development, but I think we'll see the Vols take a big step forward in that area in 2025.
Two things are very evident about Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava in spring practice and it bodes well for the Vols in 2025
Good things on the way for Nico
