Tennessee Football Predicted to Land Notre Dame Transfer Offensive Lineman

The Vols could be landing a transfer for one of their biggest positions of need.
Jan 9, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman Tosh Baker (79) celebrates with offensive lineman Sam Pendleton (72) after defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions  in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Jan 9, 2025; Miami, FL, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman Tosh Baker (79) celebrates with offensive lineman Sam Pendleton (72) after defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images / Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
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The Vols could be landing a transfer for one of their biggest positions of need.

Tennessee football is reportedly attempting to add a transfer to its offensive line through the portal.

On Thursday, On3’s Pete Nakos predicted that Sam Pendleton, an offensive guard from Notre Dame, is set to join the Vols. Pendleton entered the transfer portal on Wednesday, shortly after Notre Dame's season ended with a loss to Ohio State in the National Championship game.

At the start of the 2024 season, Pendleton was Notre Dame’s starting left guard and played in the first seven games. However, by October, he lost his starting spot when Billy Schrauth returned from injury, resulting in a reshuffling that saw Rocco Splinder take over at left guard. Pendleton's role was set to shift to that of a backup interior lineman for 2025, leaving him without a starting position.

Tennessee has been actively exploring options in the transfer portal to bolster its left guard position this offseason. However, the Vols have been unsuccessful at landing a few of their targets. Northwestern guard Josh Thompson visited the Vols before committing to LSU, while USC guard Emmanuel Pregnon also considered Tennessee before deciding on Oregon.

Heading into the 2025 offseason, the left guard position for Tennessee remains uncertain. This opens the door for Pendleton to potentially become a key addition to Tennessee’s offensive line.

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Tanner Johnson
TANNER JOHNSON

Tanner Johnson is an accomplished sports writer and journalist with extensive experience covering a wide range of collegiate and professional sports. He brings a well-rounded perspective to his national reporting, drawing on his knowledge of teams from across the country. Tanner has provided in-depth coverage of teams such as the Tennessee Titans, Tennessee Volunteers, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Arkansas Razorbacks, Florida State Seminoles, and TCU Horned Frogs. His experience spans various sports, including football, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, and track and field; reflecting his broad interest and commitment to sports journalism.