Possibly the strongest position group on offense for Tennessee football in 2026 will be its offensive line. The Vols lost just one starter from last year, left tackle Lance Heard, and return all four others.
The headliner of the group is projected to be former five-star recruit David Sanders Jr. Once healthy, he started at right tackle this past year and got better as the year went on. By the end of the season, Sanders was seemingly living up to his five-star billing despite being just a freshman. Now, he’s making the flip back to left tackle as UT’s starter at the most important position on the line.
Opposite of Sanders on the offensive line at right tackle is likely going to be Ory Williams. The LSU transfer comes in with incredible size and SEC experience, giving him a good chance to secure the role. If he doesn’t, versatile lineman Jesse Perry would also make sense at right tackle after starting a few games in the position last year before sliding into guard with the return of Sanders.
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Another spot on the line that can be written in is center. Sam Pendleton played the entire year there as the starter last season in his first year with UT after transferring in from Notre Dame. There were some growing pains in his first year at the position full-time, but he settled in nicely.
A sure-fire starter on the interior for Tennessee is Wendell Moe Jr. In his second year with the Vols after transferring in from Arizona, he has shown the ability to play both left and right guard at an elite level. The side he’s on will depend on how the other spot is filled in. If Sham Umarov takes a starting job, he’ll likely be at left guard and Moe on the right side. If Perry wins a starting interior role, it’d be at right guard with Moe on the left.
At tackle, reserve options feature five-star freshman Gabriel Osenda, Jeremias Heard and Kamari Blair. Interior reserves include West Virginia transfer Donovan Haslam, Gage Ginther, Antoni Ogumoro, Nic Moore, Ed Baker, Charlie Powell III, Michael Kostantonov and Jeremy George-El.
