Notre Dame transfer offensive lineman Sam Pendleton committed to Tennessee football on Friday morning coming off a visit to Tennessee.
A redshirt sophomore, Pendleton started seven games for the Fighting Irish last season and has three years of eligibility remaining.
The offensive guard entered the transfer portal on Wednesday morning, just two days after Notre Dame’s season came to a close with a loss to Ohio State in the National Championship game.
Pendleton began the 2024 season as Notre Dame’s starting left guard and served in that role for the Fighting Irish first seven games. The redshirt freshman lost that spot in October when starting right guard Billy Schrauth returned from injury bumping Rocco Splinder over to left guard.
The Fighting Irish have lost a number of offensive linemen to the transfer portal in recent days which opened up a bigger role for Pendleton next season. However, Pendleton still decided to leave Notre Dame before eventually landing at Tennessee.
Pendleton played 492 snaps during his redshirt season, earning a 63.2 PFF grade. He earned a 65.9 grade in pass protection and a 64.0 grade in run blocking. For comparison, Tennessee’s starting left guard Andrej Karic earned a 69.2 grade while right guard Javontez Spraggins earned a 64.2 grade during the 2024 season.
The North Carolina native is the third left guard that Tennessee has targeted in the portal this offseason but just the first that the Vols have landed. Northwestern guard Josh Thompson visited Tennessee before committing to LSU as did USC guard Emmanuel Pregnon before committing to Oregon.
Tennessee’s left guard spot is up in the air entering the 2025 offseason due to the uncertainly of Andrej Karic’s status. The former Texas transfer is out of eligibility but is appealing to the NCAA for a medical redshirt from the 2023 season when he played five snaps over the redshirt limit.
Pendleton reportedly worked at center during Notre Dame’s bowl practices which makes him a potential option to fill the void that Cooper Mays’ departure left there.
The Vols also added Arizona right guard Wendell Moe to fill the void at right guard left by Javontez Spraggins running out of eligibility.
Pendleton is the fourth Tennessee transfer commit this offseason joining Alabama receiver Amari Jefferson, Duke running back Star Thomas and Moe.
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