Tennessee landed a massive prospect out of the transfer portal on Sunday with former LSU offensive tackle Zalance “Lance” Heard.
The former Tiger was listed as active in the University of Tennessee’s student directory at the end of the week but officially announced his commitment on Sunday. Tennessee’s school classes for the spring semester begin on Monday.
Heard played in 12 games during his freshman season at LSU with one start but opted out of the Tiger’s bowl game on New Year’s Day. Heard entered the transfer portal on Jan. 2 and wound up a Tennessee commit later in the month.
The 6-foot-6, 340-pound offensive tackle was named to the Freshman All-SEC team this past December after a promising first season in Death Valley.
Heard steps onto the Tennessee roster with great timing after the Vols saw offensive tackle Gerald Mincey hit the transfer portal in January. The Vols needed an experienced lineman from the portal and missed out on a few but were able to land Heard in the end. Heard will seemingly have an opportunity to take over Tennessee’s vacant left tackle spot after John Campbell Jr. posted a video of himself working at right tackle earlier in the week.
The former LSU Tiger visited Knoxville in early January and came to his decision later in the month.
The Monroe, Louisiana, native was ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect from the state in the class of 2023 with a five-star ranking from both On3 Sports and 247 Sports. Additionally, 247 Sports’ transfer portal rankings have Heard as a four-star prospect and the No. 18 player/No. 3 offensive tackle in their system.
Heard’s commitment to the Vols makes for the seventh player that Tennessee has pulled out of the transfer portal this offseason. Tennessee also landed a commitment from three-star Stanford defensive lineman Jaxson Moi on Sunday to make for eight total transfers:
- Four-star OT Lance Heard (LSU)
- Four-star WR Chris Brazell (Tulane)
- Four-star CB Jermod McCoy (Oregon State)
- Four-star TE Holden Staes (Notre Dame)
- Three-star S Jakobe Thomas (MTSU)
- Three-star CB Jalen McMurray (Temple)
- Three-star TE Miles Kitselman (Alabama)
- Three-star DL Jaxson Moi (Stanford)
More from RTI: Tennessee Football Lands Top 15 in Final Analytical Rankings
“Transitioned from the defensive side of the ball to the right tackle position as a junior, Heard showcases the size, athleticism, and play temperament to develop into an elite level collegiate prospect at the next level,” 247 Sports recruiting analyst Cooper Petagna wrote about Heard as a high school prospect in 2022. “With a 7-foot plus wing span and almost 37-inch arms, the Neville standout’s combination of length and natural athleticism make him one of the more intriguing players in this year’s cycle.”
It’s hard to overstate how important Heard’s commitment is for Tennessee after missing out on a few other players from the portal. Tennessee has a lot riding on the play of second-year quarterback Nico Iamaleava next season and expects to return at least a trio of veteran offensive line pieces in Cooper Mays, John Campbell Jr, and Dayne Davis for their young quarterback. The Vols are still waiting on a decision from OL Javontez Spraggins for the future. Tennessee has found success with both Campbell and Mincey out of the portal in the past and is hoping that Heard can be a multi-year impact player for the Vols moving forward.
Heard has a family tie to Tennessee, too. Heard’s cousin, Jeremias Heard, is an incoming freshman lineman in the Vols’ program. Jeremias Heard is a talented, raw athlete whose position will become more solidified as he goes through spring and fall workouts with the team.
Lance Heard is on the Freshman All-SEC Team pic.twitter.com/N7jbXCGIoj
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) December 7, 2023
