New Tennessee football lineman recruit is already showing great value for Josh Heupel.

You know what? It’s time to give some well-deserved credit to the Tennessee football offensive line. While most eyes are on the quarterback battle right now, there are plenty of new strong players ready to make an impact—like Notre Dame transfer Sam Pendleton.

Pendleton is expected to start this fall at either right guard or center for the Vols and Josh Heupel. His experience will be key, especially if he takes the right guard spot, where he’ll help guide 5-star freshman David Sanders Jr. So far in camp, Pendleton has been impressing the coaches and showing solid play:

New Tennessee OL Sam Pendleton is doing everything right so far for the Vols.
When Tennessee offensive line coach Glen Elarbee speaks, it’s definitely worth paying attention. Calling Pendleton the “ultimate o-line guy” has got to put a big smile on a lot of faces. While the Vols’ offensive line will have a new look this season, the potential for something special is definitely there.

We’ve already mentioned Pendleton and Sanders, but left guard Wendell Moe Jr. is another player Tennessee fans should get excited about. Moe was a dominant force for the Arizona Wildcats and now he’s ready to make a big impact in Year 1 with Heupel and the SEC—his game has us pretty hyped.

At left tackle, Lance Heard is the lone returning starter on the line, and you can bet he’s gearing up for a major campaign. But whose blindside will he be protecting? That’s still a mystery, as Heupel hasn’t yet revealed who’s leading the quarterback battle between Joey Aguilar, Jake Merklinger, and George MacIntyre.

Finally, center remains a bit up in the air. What makes Pendleton so valuable is his ability to play both right guard and center. It’s not guaranteed he’ll line up at right guard; starting at center might be the best fit for the Vols. If that doesn’t happen, William Satterwhite would likely take center, with Pendleton sliding over to right guard. Regardless, expect Pendleton to start somewhere on the line come Week 1—his versatility will be a huge asset for the team.