Former Tennessee offensive lineman Lance Heard is one of the biggest names in the portal. Heard has been Tennessee’s starting left tackle for the past two seasons, but he’s currently in search of a new home for his final season of eligibility.
247Sports’ transfer rankings classify Heard as a four-star prospect, as well as the No. 25 overall transfer and the No. 2 offensive tackle in the portal. His experience and talent will command interest from some of the top schools in the nation.
One of those interested programs appears to be an opponent on Tennessee’s 2026 schedule. According to a report from On3 Sports’ Pete Nakos, Texas A&M is a school that is “expecting” to get a visit from Heard in the near future. The Aggies will host the Volunteers on Nov. 14 in College Station next fall.
Heard showed improvement during his second season with the Vols and was the anchor for an offensive line that saw quite a bit of rebuilding last offseason. As the full-time starter in 2025, Heard allowed just two sacks and 15 quarterback pressures. While his run blocking did take a hit, the 6-foot-6 lineman did receive a pass block grade of 74.4 and a run block grade of 69.8, according to Pro Football Focus.
Heard’s play earned him a spot on the Third Team All-SEC roster.
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Texas A&M, or whoever winds up landing Heard, will likely be ponying up some money for the former Tennessee starter. When Heard first hit the portal, Nakos reported that he would command between $1 and $3 million as a payment in the portal. It’s unclear just how much reality is living up to that initial projection, but it makes sense that a former two-year SEC starter would come with a substantial price tag.
Tennessee hasn’t been entirely quiet with the offensive line on its own end. On Tuesday, the Vols landed a commitment from LSU offensive tackle Ory Williams. The 6-foot-8 tackle played in four games for the Tigers last season as a backup lineman, and was ranked as the No. 27 offensive tackle in the portal according to 247Sports.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider for more Tennessee football portal news.
