Tag: Lance Heard

Josh Heupel discusses Lance Heard adjusting to new offense, environment

Josh Heupel discusses offensive line transfer Lance Heard adjusting to new offense and environment.

Tennessee kicked off spring practices on Monday at Anderson Training Center.

Sophomore Lance Heard took part in his first spring practice with the Vols. The 6-foot-6, 335-pound offensive lineman transferred from LSU to Tennessee on Jan. 21.

Following Tennessee’s first spring practice, fourth-year head coach Josh Heupel discussed Heard adjusting to a new offense and environment.

“He’s a really young player that played snaps and played well when he had the opportunity,” Heupel said. “He’s a young player that’s going to have to continue to grow. He has to develop and grow into being a pro in how he handles himself every single day.

“He’s been awesome inside of our building, developing relationships and how he’s competed every day. The guys that we took from the transfer portal, that recruitment happens really quickly, and it’s been a great group that has come in the building and tried to blend in and mesh into our team culture extremely quickly. They’ve handled themselves with a lot of maturity. He’s handled himself with maturity. On the field, he’s a young player that’s seven or eight months into his college football career. He’s just beginning his journey, fundamentals and technique, understanding what we are doing offensively and the communication that’s going to have to happen up front, and when we play with tempo, being able to function and operate within that. He’s in the beginning stages. He’s uber-talented and been great in the building. I expect him to grow a bunch here over the next 14 practices.”

Heard appeared in 12 games, including on start, for LSU in 2023.

PHOTOS: Tennessee kicks off 2024 spring football practices

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Former LSU offensive tackle Lance Heard commits to Tennessee

Lance Heard appeared in 12 games for the Tigers as a true freshman in 2023.

As was largely expected, former LSU offensive tackle [autotag]Lance Heard[/autotag] made his commitment to Tennessee official on Sunday.

The former five-star recruit from Monroe appeared in 12 games as a true freshman this season, starting one of them at right tackle. Though he appeared poised to compete for a starting role in 2024, he didn’t travel with the team to the ReliaQuest Bowl as coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said he was evaluating his future with the program.

That process ultimately led him to enter the portal, where Tennessee quickly emerged as the favorite to land him. He’ll have three remaining years of eligibility with the Vols.

It’s a tough loss for the Tigers because you never want to lose a prized recruit, especially to an SEC rival, but they do return both starting tackles in 2024. With [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] and [autotag]Emery Jones[/autotag] coming back, the path to the field for Heard wasn’t exactly clear.

Now, he’ll look to compete for a starting job in Knoxville.

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Social media reacts to Lance Heard’s commitment to Tennessee football

Social media reacts to Lance Heard’s commitment to Tennessee football.

LSU freshman offensive lineman Lance Heard entered the NCAA transfer portal on Jan. 2.

He committed to Tennessee on Sunday.

Heard appeared in 12 games, including one start against Army, for LSU in 2023.

The 6-foot-6, 340-pound freshman went to LSU from Neville High School in Monroe, Louisiana.

Heard joins Jaxson Moi (defensive line), Miles Kitselman (tight end), Jalen McMurray (cornerback), Jermod McCoy (cornerback), Holden Staes (tight end), Chris Brazzell (wide receiver) and Jakobe Thomas (safety) as student-athletes who transferred to Tennessee during the offseason.

Following Heard’s commitment to Tennessee on Sunday, Vols Wire looks at social media reaction:

LSU offensive line transfer Lance Heard commits to Tennessee

LSU offensive line transfer Lance Heard commits to Tennessee.

LSU offensive tackle Lance Heard entered the NCAA transfer portal on Jan. 2.

He committed to Tennessee on Sunday.

The 6-foot-6, 340-pound freshman is from Neville High School in Monroe, Louisiana.

Heard is the No. 18 overall prospect in the NCAA transfer portal and No. 3 offensive tackle. He ranked as the No. 16 overall prospect, and as a five-star, in the class of 2023. The former Tiger ranked as the No. 3 offensive tackle and No. 2 player in Louisiana, according to 247Sports.

Heard appeared in 12 games, including on start, for LSU in 2023.

Tennessee will kick off its 2024 season versus Chattanooga on Aug. 31 at Neyland Stadium. 2024 will be the fourth season for the Vols under head coach Josh Heupel.

READ: 2024 football schedules for every SEC school

https://twitter.com/lanceheard2/status/1749118639788151107

LSU offensive lineman Lance Heard expected to transfer to Tennessee

Lance Heard’s name reportedly appeared in the University of Tennessee’s student directory Friday.

LSU transfer offensive lineman [autotag]Lance Heard[/autotag] has reportedly found a home.

On Thursday, 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported that Heard was expected to transfer to Tennessee. We seemingly got confirmation of that move on Friday as Heard’s name appeared in the University of Tennessee’s student directory, according to On3’s Austin Price.

Heard was a true freshman in 2023 and a former five-star recruit from Monroe. He appeared in 12 of 13 games as the swing tackle this season, making one start at right tackle.

He was expected to contend for a starting job in 2024, but with both tackles returning in [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] and [autotag]Emory Jones[/autotag], he’s heading elsewhere.

Now it seems he’ll be staying in the SEC, though he won’t appear on the Tigers’ schedule in 2024 unless both teams meet in the conference title game.

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Pair of LSU offensive lineman plan to return in 2024

The Tigers will be bringing four of five starting offensive linemen back in 2024.

LSU is set to return four of its five starters along the offensive line.

Both starting guards [autotag]Garrett Dellinger[/autotag] and [autotag]Miles Frazier[/autotag] plan to return to Baton Rouge in 2024 despite being draft-eligible, they reportedly told On3’s Shea Dixon. With tackles [autotag]Emery Jones[/autotag] and [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] not being draft-eligible, center [autotag]Charles Turner[/autotag] is the only starter who won’t be back next season.

The pair has seen a lot of action in the last few seasons. Dellinger has started 23 of 34 games he’s appeared in over the last three seasons, including all 13 this past fall. Frazier, meanwhile, is a transfer from Florida International and has started all but one of the 26 games he’s appeared in since joining the Tigers in 2022.

LSU has seen some losses along the offensive line as [autotag]Lance Heard[/autotag] entered the portal and [autotag]Mason Lunsford[/autotag] retired, but it brings back a lot of starting experience and a promising young center in [autotag]DJ Chester[/autotag], who will likely replace Turner.

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Former LSU offensive tackle Lance Heard receives transfer prediction in favor of SEC foe

Lance Heard may be staying in the SEC after entering the transfer portal.

Former LSU offensive tackle [autotag]Lance Heard[/autotag] may be staying in the SEC.

After appearing in 12 games as a true freshman with one start at right tackle, the former five-star recruit from Monroe, Louisiana, opted to enter the transfer portal. And on Friday, he received a prediction in favor of the Tennessee Volunteers from On3.

We’ll see if that ultimately comes to pass given the fact that it was only logged as a 70% confidence prediction. Heard took a visit to Knoxville last weekend followed by a trip to Norman to visit Oklahoma this week.

Many thought Heard could compete for a starting job next season, but with both tackles returning in [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] and [autotag]Emery Jones[/autotag], it was far from a guarantee.

At least Heard and Tennessee won’t be on LSU’s schedule in 2024, if that is ultimately his transfer decision.

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Analysis: LSU’s Lance Heard enters the transfer portal

Here’s what LSU is losing with offensive tackle Lance Heard hitting the transfer portal.

The transfer portal window is now closed, but LSU took one of its biggest hits at the buzzer this week.

Offensive linemen [autotag]Lance Heard[/autotag] entered the portal. It was no surprise after Heard didn’t travel for the bowl game as head coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said Heard was evaluating his role with the program.

The writing was on the wall here.

Out of all the Tigers to hit the portal, Heard is the most talented. There’s no getting around that. He was a five-star recruit in 2023 and according to PFF, he was the top-graded freshman offensive lineman. This is a guy that’s ready to play now.

Where does this leave LSU?

The offensive line will be fine. [autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag] and [autotag]Emery Jones[/autotag] are two of the best in the SEC, and there are enough pieces that the interior will work itself out.

But if Heard was on the roster, that would allow LSU to play him at right tackle and bump Jones to guard. The bottom line is with Campbell, Jones and Heard, LSU had three tackles that are capable of playing at an All-SEC level.

That’s something you usually don’t find and an incredible luxury.

Now, LSU doesn’t have that luxury. It’ll be counting on Campbell and Jones to stay healthy, which they’ve done so far, and another young lineman to make a jump.

LSU signed two more blue-chip tackles in the 2023 class, [autotag]Tyree Adams[/autotag] and [autotag]DJ Chester[/autotag]. Adams played just three offensive snaps this year and Chester has a bright future, but it’s at the center position.

LSU doesn’t have an immediate answer to solve its depth issue at tackle now. And again, every team in the country has depth issues on the offensive line. That’s what made LSU having Campbell, Jones and Heard so special.

[autotag]Brad Davis[/autotag] is one of the best offensive line coaches in the business and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he had Adams ready to compete on the two-deep next year. [autotag]Bo Bordelon[/autotag] and [autotag]Paul Mubenga[/autotag] were three-star recruits who could pan out too.

Or maybe it’s one of the 2024 signees like [autotag]Weston Davis[/autotag] or [autotag]Ethan Calloway[/autotag], two more blue-chip tackle recruits set to join that room.

Regardless, LSU needs an answer now. Heard was projected as an All-American level player. That’s now one less player of that caliber on LSU’s roster.

It’s on Davis to develop another one of these guys to fill that gap.

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LSU lands a legacy SEC cornerback in the transfer portal

Austin Ausberry, son of former LSU linebacker Verge Ausberry, committed to the Tigers in the portal.

It has been a crazy day for LSU football. [autotag]Mekhi Wingo[/autotag] and Brian Thomas Jr. announced that they would enter their names into the 2024 NFL draft, [autotag]Lance Heard[/autotag] entered the transfer portal,as did [autotag]Jalen Brown[/autotag].

All three of those things are bad news, but here is some good news.

LSU landed a redshirt freshman cornerback from Auburn in the transfer portal. Once again, another player from the boot is coming home. [autotag]Austin Ausberry[/autotag] is from Baton Rouge where he played for University Lab, and he’s the son of former Tigers linebacker [autotag]Verge Ausberry[/autotag].

The 6-foot, 200-pound cornerback redshirted last year for Auburn after appearing in only four games and making one tackle. This year was not much different for him. He appeared in only three games this year and made one tackle.

Ausberry will come to the bayou with three years of eligibility left and will provide LSU with another defensive back who has a little playing experience.

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LSU true freshman receiver, former blue chip recruit enters transfer portal

A former top-70 recruit, Jalen Brown redshirted while appearing in three games in 2023.

Following the conclusion of LSU’s season with a 35-31 win over Wisconsin in the ReliaQuest Bowl on New Year’s Day, it saw the departure of two of the top signees in the 2023 class.

First was former five-star offensive tackle [autotag]Lance Heard[/autotag], who signaled his decision when he didn’t travel with the team to Tampa. Next was former four-star receiver [autotag]Jalen Brown[/autotag], who entered just before the deadline on Tuesday night.

A top-70 prospect in the 2023 class from Gulliver Prep in Miami, Brown redshirted during his true freshman season while appearing in three games but recording no stats. He’ll have four remaining years of eligibility at his next stop.

It’s a blow to a Tigers receiver room that’s set to lose [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] It will return veterans [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag], [autotag]Chris Hilton Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] as well as another highly touted 2023 signee who redshirted in [autotag]Shelton Sampson Jr.[/autotag]

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