Despite losing a notable starter to the January transfer portal, Tennessee's offensive line made up of returnees, fresh blood and transfers is poised to produce as a firm protective front for their signal-caller in 2026.

Here's a look at the reloaded offensive lineman for Tennessee's upcoming season: 

After two seasons with the Volunteers, veteran offensive tackle Lance Heard has decided to call it quits in Knoxville.  After entering the transfer portal at the conclusion of the season, Heard signed with SEC Rival Kentucky. 

Heard started all 12 games for the Vols in 2025, playing every offensive snap. He additionally earned conference lineman of the week honors in October and received an All-SEC Third Team selection in his junior season.

Joining Heard in the transfer portal were Max Anderson, Trevor Duncan, Brian Grant, William Satterwhite and Bennett Warren.

Anderson, who played a very minor role for Tennessee last season, joins Heard en route to Kentucky.

Duncan has yet to sign with a new school.

Grant, who primarily saw action in special teams units last season, has signed to play for Memphis next season.

Satterwhite, who played the reserve center position, will play under Lane Kiffin next season at LSU.

Rounding out the transferring group, Warren has committed to go north and play for the Minnesota Gophers in the fall.

Despite Losing Heard (the only returning starter to begin the 2025 season), the Vols returned several key pieces of last season's group to remain competitive in the SEC.

David Sanders Jr., the freshman star of last season who made his debut on the road against Mississippi State, will be back for his second season with the Vols in 2026. This time as a bonafide starter. The 6-foot-6, 305-pound tackle received an All-SEC Freshman Team honor last year.

When Sanders was told he would be moving from right tackle to left tackle, that was the cue that sent Heard out the door.

Also returning for the Vols are key starters, Wendell Moe Jr., Sam Pendelton and Shamurad Umarov.

Starting 11 games for the Vols last season, Moe showcased positional flexibility spending time at both right and left guard for different points in the season. In 2025 Moe was named to the All- SEC First Team. Moe will likely start at right guard next season.

Pendelton, who held down the center position for Tennessee last season as a redshirt sophomore, returns for another year as the starter in 2026. 

Starting in all 12 games last season, the 6-4, 310-pounder allowed only one sack.

Umarov started nine games for the Vols at the left guard slot last season and will remain at that spot for next season. 

Additional notable line returnees include Nic Moore, Jessee Perry ad Antoni Ogumoro.

Tennessee's offense did not make as much noise in the transfer portal as its defense did this year, because they didn't have to. 

After losing just one key contributor from last year's line, the Vols have the luxury of relying on returnees and young depth for next season with minimal yet effective help from the portal. 

In January, the Vols received transfer commitments from two players who could certainly fight their way into starting spots in the fall.  

Left guard Donovan Haslam of West Virginia and former LSU tackle Ory Williams. 

As a redshirt junior last season, Haslam (6-3, 346 pounds) played in all 12 games and 444 offensive snaps without surrendering a single sack or hit to his quarterback. 

Williams, a redshirt freshman with the Tigers last year, also played in all 12 games, while seeing mainly special teams action. In the 150 offensive snaps that he played, Williams did not allow a single sack. 

The Tennessee offensive line recruiting class of 2026 adds four new big men to Rocky Top in 2026, with three already enrolled and set for spring action.

Ed Baker, a 6-4s, 336-pound guard from Baltimore has already begun practicing with the Vols.

Joining Baker are Kamari Blair, a 6-6, 280-pound tackle from Clarksville, Tenn. and Gabriel Osenda, a 6-8, 333-pound giant out of Canada.

Interior offensive line prospect Jeremy George-El of Knoxville has signed a letter of intent to play for Tennessee in the fall.