https://x.com/gurufantasywrld/status/2047305466183622682?s=46&t=ZwwaOL0iT9v3LoUetORciQThe Tennessee Volunteers have some real question marks heading into the 2026 college football season — such as the quarterback position — but the team has some legitimate strengths, too.
ESPN named the biggest strength for each preseason top 25 college football team this week and their choice for the Tennessee Vols should be very exciting for fans on Rocky Top.
To win a championship in college football, you have to be elite in the trenches — there’s no other way.
That’s why Vols fans should feel encouraged that ESPN named the offensive line as Tennessee’s biggest strength heading into the 2026 season.
The Vols are returning the bulk of their starting offensive line in 2026, minus offensive tackle Lance Heard, who transferred to Kentucky earlier this offseason.
This group has a little bit of everything. Freshman All-America tackle David Sanders Jr. is back, along with Sam Pendleton, Wendell Moe Jr., Jesse Perry and Shamurad Umarov. Josh Heupel also made some key additions via the portal in Ory Williams and Donovan Haslam (West Virginia), as well as freshmen in Gabriel Osenda and Kamari Blair. Whoever winds up playing quarterback should feel good about the abundance of talent in front of him.
It’s unclear exactly what Tennessee’s starting offensive line will look like, though David Sanders Jr is essentially penciled in at left tackle and Wendell Moe will hold down a guard spot. Sam Pendleton will likely start at center for a second straight season. Jesse Perry, Shad Umarov, Ory Williams, and Donovan Haslam should battle for the other two starting spots.
It’s possible that Nic Moore could push Pendleton at the center position this fall, but the feeling is that Pendleton’s experience will win out.
"Pendleton, by talking to people, it sounds like he got pushed around a little bit in the spring by some of the interior defensive linemen," said VolQuest's Austin Price on WNML earlier this month. "Is that an open competition? Or just because he's an older guy and was the starter a year ago, is that a locked in spot for him this fall? Where does that thing take us come August? To me, that's a question I think bears watching."
A strong offensive line will be especially important for the Vols in 2026 as the program will feature an inexperienced starting quarterback in either redshirt freshman George MacIntyre or true freshman Faizon Brandon.