Tennessee football gets Notre Dame OL Sam Pendleton from portal after CFP title game

Posted by author January 24, 2025 Football

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Tennessee football landed Notre Dame offensive lineman Sam Pendleton, a late entry into the transfer portal following the national title game.

On Friday, Pendleton announced his commitment to the Vols after a visit to UT campus.

“What a great ride I’ve had over the last two years! As I step into this next chapter I am so grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given,” Pendleton posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “I would like to thank Coach Heupel and his staff for being so welcoming. Let’s get to work! Go Vols!”

Pendleton could compete to start at one of UT’s vacant guard spots or perhaps be an option at center, a position he practiced at while at Notre Dame.

He started the first seven games of the 2024 season at guard for the Fighting Irish and served as a backup in the College Football Playoff.

Pendleton did not play in Notre Dame’s 34-23 loss to Ohio State in the national title game on Monday. After the game, he entered the portal, which is open for five days following a player’s final game.

Pendleton joins Arizona transfer Wendell Moe, who should compete to start at a guard spot.

Overall, the Vols have added four players from the portal. They also got Duke running back Star Thomas and Alabama wide receiver Amari Jefferson.

How Sam Pendleton started at Notre Dame for half a season

Pendleton was a four-star recruit in the 2023 class, according to 247Sports Composite ratings. He is from Lawsonville, North Carolina, located about 260 miles east of Knoxville, and he attended UT’s junior day event as a recruit in January 2022.

Pendleton, a 6-foot-4, 310-pounder, has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

In 2023, he played two games as a freshman and took a redshirt. In 2024, he played 13 games, including half the season as a starter at left guard.

In preseason practice, Pendleton won the starting job over two veterans who had started the previous season. But by midseason, injured linemen returned to the field and those returning starters had improved, which pushed Pendleton out of the starting lineup.

If Pendleton returned to Notre Dame next season, he would’ve been in a logjam on the depth chart. But at UT, he immediately fills a need on an offensive line that must replace as many as four starters.

Will Sam Pendleton start for Tennessee in 2025?

Pendleton and Moe should be among the frontrunners for the starting guard spots in spring practice, considering both started for Power Four conference schools in 2024.

Moe was a two-year starter at Arizona, and he made the All-Pac-12 team in 2023. Pendleton played 15 games with seven starts over two seasons at Notre Dame. UT coaches could also explore Pendleton’s ability to play center.

But they’ll get competition from offensive linemen signed and developed by UT.

For now, UT has openings at both guard spots.

All-SEC right guard Javontez Spraggins exhausted his eligibility. Left guard Andrej Karic also exhausted his eligibility, but he is appealing to the NCAA for a medical waiver to regain one season and return in 2025. And backup guard Jackson Lampley also exhausted his eligibility.

Reserve interior offensive lineman Vysen Lang transferred to Troy.

William Satterwhite, Max Anderson and Jesse Perry are among the possible replacements for All-SEC center Cooper Mays at center. They were freshmen in 2024.

Starting left tackle Lance Heard returns. Five-star freshman David Sanders, the No. 1 ranked tackle in the 2025 class, will compete with young linemen for the starting right tackle spot.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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