Tennessee football OT Lance Heard plans to enter transfer portal

1 week ago 2

Tennessee offensive tackle Lance Heard plans to enter the transfer portal, he announced on his social media accounts on Jan. 1

“After a lot of thought and prayer, I've decided to enter the transfer portal with eligibility remaining, to explore new opportunities and continue developing as a player and as a person,” Heard posted on X and Instagram.. "Tennessee will always hold a special place in my journey, and I'm thankful for everything this program has given me."

The transfer portal opens on Jan. 2.

Heard, an All-SEC third-team selection, started all 13 games at left tackle in the 2025 season.

He played 887 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus, the second most on UT's team behind quarterback Joey Aguilar. And Heard allowed only two sacks all season.

Heard was considered a potential 2026 NFL Draft prospect. But he instead will utilize his final season of college eligibility, albeit not at Tennessee.

Heard is 6-foot-6, 330 pounds, and he was graded a five-star prospect out of high school. He played the 2023 season at LSU and then transferred to Tennessee. He started 23 games at left tackle over the past two seasons.

How Lance Heard departure impacts Tennessee offensive line

If Heard returned to the Vols in 2026, he likely would have to move from left tackle to right tackle to make way for David Sanders.

In 2025, Heard played left tackle. Sanders, arguably the No. 1 tackle in the 2025 class, played right tackle as a freshman, but he was expected to take over left tackle in 2026.

Shortly before Heard announced his plans to enter the portal, backup tackle Bennett Warren did the same. Either player has the option to return to Tennessee, but only if they're accepted back. The school has no obligation to allow a player to return. Notably, a player cannot enter the portal until Jan. 2.

For now, Sanders and Jesse Perry are projected to start at the tackle spots. Sanders can move to left tackle, and Perry remains an option at right guard and right tackle after starting at both positions in the 2025 season.

But UT also could be in the market for offensive linemen in the portal, so the team will explore multiple scenarios.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Lance Heard: Tennessee football tackle plans to enter transfer portal

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