You know what, it's time for us to give some needed love to the Tennessee football offensive line. Right now, the focus for a lot of people is the quarterback battle, but plenty of new hosses are in town ready to make a splash. This includes Notre Dame transfer Sam Pendleton.
Pendleton is expected to start at either right guard or center for the Vols and Josh Heupel this fall. His experience alone is going to be crucial for that side of the line if he's the RG, as he'll be working to help 5-star freshman David Sanders Jr. come along. Thus far at camp, Pendleton is looking solid and the coaching staff has most certainly taken notice:
Vols o-line coach Glen Elarbee on Notre Dame transfer Sam Pendleton: He's the ultimate o-line guy. He loves being an offensive line. He does everything with a smile and encourages the other guys.
— GoVols247 (@GoVols247) August 5, 2025
New Tennessee OL Sam Pendleton is doing everything right thus far for the Vols
When Tennessee offensive line coach Glen Elarbee speaks up, it's time to listen. Him calling Pendleton the 'ultimate o-line guy' has got to bring a smile to a lot of faces. There's going to be a new look for the Tennessee offensive line, but the potential is there for this unit to be special.
We already mentioned Pendleton and Sanders, but left guard Wendell Moe Jr. is someone fans need to get excited about as well. He was a total stud for the Arizona Wildcats and now he's ready to make a splash in Year 1 with Heupel and Co. in the SEC - we're quite high on his game.
At left tackle, Lance Heard is the only returning starter up front and you already know a big campaign will be on the way for him. Who's blindside will he be protecting? That's unknown, as we're still waiting for Heupel to give us a hint at who's in the lead in the QB race between Joey Aguilar, Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre.
Lastly, center is a bit wide open. What makes Pendleton so special is that he can also play that position. It's not a lock that he's going to be the right guard, as him lining up at center might be best for the Vols. If things don't work out that way, William Satterwhite would be the center and Pendleton will be the RG. Things are up in the air a bit, but look for Pendleton to start somewhere on the line come Week 1. His versatility will prove to be quite valuable for this team.