Tennessee Vols officially make important transfer portal addition that will instantly help the program in 2025

"What a great ride I’ve had over the last two years," wrote Pendleton in a tweet confirming the news. "As I step into this next chapter I am so grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given. I would like to thank Coach Heupel and his staff for being so welcoming. Let’s get to work! Go Vols!"

Pendleton, who has three seasons of eligibility remaining, is a strong candidate to be a starter for Tennessee in 2025. 

The North Carolina native started seven games at guard for Notre Dame in 2024. He also received practice reps at center (Pendleton was Notre Dame's backup center late in the year). 

Tennessee could use Pendleton at guard (depending on whether or not Andrej Karic receives a waiver from the NCAA and returns in 2025) or he could be an option at center (the 2025 season will be the first time that Josh Heupel's had a starting center not named Cooper Mays). 

The Vols were in desperate need of another offensive lineman. Landing Pendleton, a player that Tennessee built a great relationship with during the high school recruiting process, gives the Vols' offensive line a huge boost heading into the spring months.