Imagine going from protecting Jayden Daniels one football season to protecting Nico Iamaleava the next.
Such is the case for Tennessee sophomore Lance Heard, who is working at first-team left tackle this spring after spending his freshman year at LSU. Heard competed in all 12 regular-season games for the Tigers last season, earning one start at right tackle and playing 195 snaps overall without allowing a sack.
Heard earned a spot on the Southeastern Conference’s all-freshman team, and Volunteers fourth-year offensive line coach Glen Elarbee is understandably giddy to have the 6-foot-6, 335-pounder.
“The guy has unbelievable length and natural ability, so protecting the passer is going to be a big improvement,” Elarbee said Monday in a news conference that followed the fifth spring practice. “He’s just a big human. He’s got the ability to move four eyes in the run game.
“That’s where I feel like Darnell (Wright) changed our run game a lot, and I feel like Lance will have that ability, too. He got to LSU in the summer and had to play in the fall, so he’s really just going through his first offseason.”