Tennessee football could feel effects of walk-on OL in transfer portal

There are lots of bodies on the offensive line for Tennessee football, but it’s no secret they need more proven depth and more help at offensive tackle. As a result, any player they lose at tackle could end up being costly depending on how the rest of the situation shakes out.

Well, the Vols appear to have lost one. Nick Edwards, a redshirt freshman, has entered the transfer portal. An in-state walk-on in 2021 out of Clarksville High School in Montgomery County, Tenn.,  Edwards stands at 6’5″ 324 pounds and didn’t play this past year.

Initially, Edwards was planning to walk-on to the FCS North Alabama Lions, according to an article last year from Ryan Callahan of 247Sports. However, he then committed to Tennessee football in April after speaking with Josh Heupel. He announced his decision to enter the portal Monday morning on Twitter.

Okay, so a guy planning to initially walk on to an FCS program may not be somebody who was going to see a lot of action. However, since tackle is Edwards’ primary position, he had a greater chance to surprise people than you might think.

Right now, Dayne Davis, another former walk-on, has worked his way into the rotation at tackle. With Cade Mays gone, right tackle is a huge question for the Vols heading into 2022 and beyond. Losing a guy like Edwards limits their options and competition.

Of course, Florida Gators transfer Gerald Mincey and returning junior college transfer Jeremiah Crawford still likely make for a solid two-deep rotation, and that doesn’t even take into account all the players who were recruited there. However, you almost never have enough depth on your offensive line.

Also, Crawford will be gone after this year, and the same could end up being true of Darnell Wright. Even if Wright returns to Tennessee football for a fifth year of eligibility in 2023, he’ll be gone by 2024. Davis might even be gone by then as well.

Simply put, depth at tackle is already a concern, and it’s one that could grow going forward. Glen Elarbee needs as many bodies as possible there, and even walk-ons can help. Given Heupel’s system, you can find good blockers anywhere, and they don’t always fit the mold of the ones with conventionally high expectations.

Taking that into account, Edwards could end up being a loss for Tennessee football. This is pure speculation, to be fair, and it’s not likely to be true, but it’s not something we can just completely ignore. Keep an eye on this situation going into the future.