ICYMI: LSU football offensive lineman transferring to SEC foe

Earlier this offseason, the Tiger football program suffered a major loss, as LSU offensive lineman Lance Heard made the decision to transfer away. On Sunday, the former five-star finally announced his college choice, as he’ll make his way to Tennessee for the 2024 season.

LSU football offensive lineman Lance Heard to transfer to Tennessee

It’s never ideal to lose a big-time five-star recruit just one year into his tenure with your football program. However, in the case of LSU offensive lineman Lance Heard, there are only so many starting spots to go around, and it appeared that the Monroe, LA, product was going to be the odd man out.

Sophomores Emery Jones Jr and Will Campbell will be taking either tackle spot, while juniors Garrett Dellinger and Miles Frazier are set to return to their spots at guard.

In turn, it seemed as though the five-star recruit would need to wait one more year to get to the front of the line, and so he elected for the transfer portal. Now, as of Sunday, the big-time LSU offensive lineman will now make his way to Knoxville, TN, to play for coach Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Volunteers.

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— lanceheard (@lanceheard2) January 21, 2024

Coming out of high school as a part of the class of 2023, few players in the country were viewed in as high a regard as that of Lance Heard. He was the No. 2 player in Louisiana, according to 247Sports, as well as the No. 16 player nationally.

Despite earning just one start during the 2023 campaign, he was a consistent force for the electric LSU offense. He made appearances in all 12 games and found his way to the 2023 SEC All-Freshman team.

With his move to SEC rival Tennessee, he should be able to slide right in at a starting tackle spot, which was likely one of the big selling points for the former five-star. While the Tigers aren’t expected to face the Volunteers in 2024, LSU fans can expect to see Lance Heard at some point down the road.