Vols OT Lance Heard Explains The Draw of Playing With Nico Iamaleava

Tennessee Volunteers offensive tackle Lance Heard explained the draw of playing with quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

Tennessee Volunteers offensive tackle Lance Heard explained the draw of playing with quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

Tennessee offensive tackle Lance Heard had a difficult decision to make this offseason. He appeared in twelve contests with his home-state LSU Tigers, earning a start against Army. However, Heard wanted to see the field in a starting role starting this season, something LSU couldn't offer.

He decided to enter his name into the transfer portal. Many national suitors came calling, but two of the teams constantly linked to Heard were the Oklahoma Sooners and the Tennessee Volunteers. Obviously, the Vols won his services, and he's begun spring practices with the team.

Heard was a former five-star prospect in the 2023 signing class, and he had long known of Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Heard met with the media early in spring practices to discuss his transfer decision, and he admitted Iamaleava played a role. The two will play together for at least the next two seasons, barring any early NFL Draft declarations, and should be a formidable quarterback-left tackle tandem for the rest of college football.

"I knew that Nico was a great player," Heard explained. "We came in the same class, and I saw him; he was a very high recruit when we were coming. And I knew that I wanted to be a part of that and his success."

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