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Tennessee will not have starting left tackle Lance Heard on Saturday night in Norman, according to a report.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel was first to share that news on Friday evening. Heard also missed Tennessee’s Week 3 game against Kent State with a leg injury.
Thamel also reports that Dayne Davis will start in his place. Davis has made 7 previous starts on Tennessee’s offensive line, with 6 of them coming at right tackle. He made his first-career start at left tackle last weekend.
Sources: Tennessee starting left tackle Lance Heard will be out against Oklahoma on Saturday night. It’s the second-straight game he’ll miss with a leg injury. Dayne Davis will again start in his place, which will be his eighth career start. pic.twitter.com/UbY9Xdj5ng
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 20, 2024
Heard is a big loss for the Vols. He was a massive transfer portal addition for Tennessee this offseason after he began his career at LSU. A former blue-chip recruit, Heard earned SEC all-freshman honors last season.
Although he’s a reserve, Davis has been excellent so far in 2024. He leads all Tennessee offensive tackles with a pass block grade of 84.4 on the season, according to Pro Football Focus. PFF says Davis has not allowed a pressure yet this season in 51 pass blocking snaps.
Oklahoma will present an interesting challenge for Heard and Tennessee’s entire offensive line. R Mason Thomas has emerged as OU’s best pass rusher — he recorded 3 sacks in Oklahoma’s win over Tulane last weekend.
Josh Heupel and the Vols are consensus 7-point favorites over Oklahoma in Week 4.
Kickoff between Tennessee and Oklahoma is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday night.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
