Tennessee made a huge addition to its offensive line on Sunday afternoon.
The Vols earned a commitment from former LSU offensive tackle Lance Heard. The former 5-star prospect is widely-regarded as one of the top players in the transfer portal, regardless of position.
Oklahoma and numerous other top programs were pursuing Heard in the portal, but he ultimately chose the Vols. He shared the news with On3’s Hayes Fawcett:
BREAKING: Former LSU OT Lance Heard has Committed to Tennessee, a source tells @on3sports
The 6’6 340 OT is ranked as the No. 9 Player in the Transfer Portal (No. 2 OT)
Was a 5-Star Recruit in the ‘23 Class #GBO?https://t.co/jnqhnUsRyX pic.twitter.com/8r7SjyBuVj
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) January 21, 2024
Heard is a significant addition for Tennessee out of the portal. He was ranked as the No. 3 offensive tackle and the No. 15 overall prospect in the nation for the class of 2023, per 247Sports Composite rankings.
As a freshman at LSU, Heard was listed at 6-foot-6, 340 pounds. He played in 12 games for the Tigers this past season, earning 1 start. He’s originally from Monroe, Louisiana.
Heard figures to compete for a starting role on Tennessee’s offensive line next season. The Vols will be hoping to take a step forward in 2024 and possibly compete for a spot in the newly-expanded College Football Playoff.
Tennessee now has 7 transfer commitments this offseason, although Heard is the first offensive lineman to join that group. Tennessee’s transfer class ranks in the top 25 nationally, per 247Sports Composite rankings.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
