Josh Heupel and Tennessee football had to jump into the portal to add some depth to their roster for the 2024 season. The Vols did a bit more than that, adding some future starters and playmakers to the roster.
247 Sports built its All-Transfer Team with the top talent in the country who moved to a new program through the winter or spring transfer portal windows. It consists of at least one player at each position, who 247 believes is the best portal player at each position heading into the 2024 season.
Former Tennessee offensive tackle Gerald Mincey entered the transfer portal after the 2023 season and moved to Kentucky, forcing the Vols to find a replacement through the portal. The Vols found former LSU tackle Lance Heard and earned the commitment from the four-star transfer in January.
Heard was one of the best linemen in the portal this cycle, and he earned his spot on 247’s All-Transfer Team as one of the two offensive tackles on the list. Missouri’s new tackle, Cayden Green, also made the list.
He was soon rewarded with a position on the Baton Rouge Tigers’ roster. In 195 snaps, he did not allow a single sack during his participation in 12 games. With three years of eligibility remaining, Lance could lead the offense as a starter for the Vols this season.
A strong offensive line in front of redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava is essential if Tennessee is to qualify for this year’s expanded College Football Playoffs. The Vols will enter the 2024 season with one of the greatest front fives in the conference thanks to Heard’s arrival to the offensive line.
