'He's really dialed in, he's focused' - Vols insider drops update on key player that Tennessee needs to play at a high level in 2025

There's been plenty of talk about the Tennessee Vols' lack of depth at wide receiver and uncertainty at quarterback ahead of the 2025 college football season.

Those two concerns are often the first things naysayers mention when suggesting Tennessee could take a step back this fall.

The truth is, though, the Volunteers' offensive line has to play well first for the quarterbacks and wide receivers to have a legitimate chance to thrive.

Tennessee will have four new starters along the offensive line in 2025.

Left tackle Lance Heard, a former LSU Tigers transfer who is the Vols' lone returning starting offensive linemen, needs to take a big step forward after struggling at times last season.

Fortunately for Tennessee, it sounds like Heard is having a terrific fall camp.

"I think they're more talented than they were a year ago," said VolQuest's Austin Price of UT's offensive line during an appearance Tuesday on 104.5 The Zone's Ramon and Will. "Lance Heard really just kind of kicked it in gear this offseason. He's done a fantastic job of losing the proper weight. He's still big, but he's not too big. He's really dialed in. He's focused.

"The coaches are saying all the right things about Lance Heard right now based off of his offseason production and his offseason work. He's the leader of this offensive line."

Price's comments line up with what Vols offensive line coach Glen Elarbee said about Heard earlier this month.

"He’s lost weight, but he ain’t lost an ounce of power and he’s way stronger," said Elarbee in early August when asked about Heard. "He’s redirecting better. His hands in pass pro [are] way better. Footwork, getting a base and being able to maintain blocks and create movement and play with balance. I don’t know, credit to that guy, man. He’s done an unreal job, a really good job.”

Heard had a 44.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus last season. That poor grade can mostly be attributed to the injuries (and the mental side of dealing with those injuries) that impacted Heard in 2024. Now that he's healthy, in better shape, and more familiar with Tennessee's scheme, we could see the Louisiana native live up to his five-star potential this fall.