Tennessee Vols transfer offensive lineman Lance Heard is expected to visit an SEC powerhouse
Offensive lineman Lance Heard is in the transfer portal after spending the last two seasons at Tennessee.
Tennessee Vols transfer offensive lineman Lance Heard is reportedly expected to visit a big-time SEC program “soon”.
According to The Athletic, Heard is expected to visit the Texas A&M Aggies this week.
Heard, who was named third-team All-SEC in 2025, started all 13 games at left tackle for the Vols this past season. The Louisiana native transferred to Tennessee ahead of the 2024 season after spending the first year of his career at LSU.
Tennessee would’ve welcomed Heard back to Rocky Top in 2026, but the feeling is that he wasn’t on board with moving to right tackle next fall. Former five-star recruit David Sanders Jr, who started at right tackle for the Vols as a true freshman in 2025, is expected to move to left tackle in 2026.
Tennessee already has Lance Heard’s replacement
The Vols addressed their offensive line this week by landing LSU transfer offensive lineman Ory Williams.
Williams, 6-foot-8/300 pounds, started two games at left tackle for the Tigers in 2025. He has three seasons of eligibility remaining.
The expectation, at least for now, is that Sanders will start at left tackle and Williams will start at right tackle in 2026. Wendell Moe and Jesse Perry would then hold down the guard spots with Sam Pendleton returning to play center.
That would be a solid offensive line for Tennessee. The biggest concerns will be how quickly Williams can pick up the Vols’ offense (if he struggles, maybe Perry plays some right tackle), and what the depth looks like behind the starting group (UT has lost some quality offensive line depth this offseason).
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