Tennessee Vols player named as a transfer portal addition who could help swing the College Football Playoff race

On Monday, 247Sports put together a list of transfer additions for each top 25 team that could swing the College Football Playoff race this fall.

For the Tennessee Vols, 247Sports went with LSU offensive line transfer addition Lance Heard, who joined the team in late January.

Heard is a former five-star recruit who played in 12 games as a true freshman for LSU in 2023.

From 247Sports : Tennessee had a varied tackle rotation a year ago with four players playing 393-plus snaps. The Vols are hoping for more stability in 2024 and Heard could provide that at left tackle. An LSU transfer and former five-star recruit, Heard impressed this spring and looks like the team's starting left tackle. That's a key role in 2024 with prized second year QB Nico Iamaleava taking over the starting job. Heard and John Campbell as the team's starting tackles gives Tennessee an upside at tackle it lacked last year.

The Vols didn't initially have a need for a transfer offensive tackle after the 2023 season. But when right tackle Gerald Mincey unexpectedly entered the NCAA transfer portal in January, the Vols had to scramble to find a new starting tackle (Mincey eventually transferred to Kentucky).

Heard is expected to play left tackle for Tennessee this fall with John Campbell, who started at left tackle in 2023, moving to right tackle.

Mincey proved to be a solid player for the Vols during his two seasons on Rocky Top, but Heard has a higher ceiling as a player. If the LSU transfer can quickly grasp Josh Heupel's unique up-tempo offense, he could quickly become a game-changer for Tennessee.

Related: Former Sooners HC Bob Stoops gets real on Josh Heupel's success at Tennessee and his return to Oklahoma in 2024