Big Orange Report June 12, 2025

 


Meet the Vols 2025

Centers/Offensive Guards
Position Coach-- Glen Elarbee
All Star Candidate-- Wendell Moe

Wendell Moe-- Red shirt junior (6-2, 330) from Long Beach, California-- Tennessee needed immediate help in the blocking front and the staff found Moe in the portal. He transferred from Arizona where he was a mainstay for the past two seasons. He was a second team All-Conference (Pac-12) selection after playing a total of 1775 offensive snaps and yielding only one quarterback sack over his position. He did not allow a sack last season. He is a powerful blocker in the run game as well as when protecting the passer and he is one of the strongest players on this football team. Moe is among the top 10 offensive linemen that entered the transfer portal this past January. Coach Elarbee has his left guard and potential leader in Moe.
Sam Pendleton-- Red shirt sophomore (6--4, 315) from Lawsonville, North Carolina-- The staff landed this transfer out of the portal from Notre Dame where he started seven games last season and played in 13 contests. Pendleton has three years of eligibility remaining after being red-shirted during his freshman year at ND. He played a total of 482 snaps last autumn and did not allow a sack to come through his position. During spring drills in Knoxville, he worked at both guard and center. He was a top 25 offensive line prospect coming out of high school in NC.
William Satterwhite-- Red shirt freshman (6-3, 310) from Barberton, Ohio-- This young lineman got a crash course in the center position during spring practice as the staff looks for someone to step up and fill the spot vacated by Cooper Mays. Satterwhite is almost ready physically but there is also the job of surveying the defensive front and making late calls to the other offensive linemen that must be mastered in order to be a complete player. Coming out of high school, he was a four star rated recruit and was in the ESPNU top 200 seniors.
Sham Umarov-- Red shirt sophomore (6-7, 330) from Alpharetta, Georgia-- Showing very positive signs during spring drills, Umarov is expected to be a key reserve at the guard positions and maybe even at offensive tackle. A physically imposing blocker who moves his feet well and has very long arms to fend off defensive linemen. He was a four-star rated player coming out of talent rich Georgia. 247.com ranked him as the No. 113 overall prospect in the country.
Max Anderson-- Red shirt freshmen (6-5, 315) from Frisco, Texas-- According to Rivals.com, Anderson was the No. 13 ranked offensive lineman in the Class of '24 after excelling at the football powerhouse in Frisco. Anderson was a top 20 prospect in the Lone Star State.  He has been working almost exclusively at center as he battles for playing time. Like some of the other younger linemen, Anderson can also line up at a guard position for Coach Elarbee.
Gage Ginther-- Red shirt freshman (6-5, 310) from Ft. Collins, Colorado-- Another youngster with excellent potential, Ginther got plenty of reps during spring drills and is challenging for a major backup role at guard or maybe even tackle. After his senior season of high school ball, he was ranked as the No. 2 overall college prospect in Colorado.
Jesse Perry-- Red shirt freshman (6-6, 320) from Murfreesboro-- Perry was not as highly rated as some of his classmates, but he has been impressive with his work since arriving in Knoxville. He may be needed as a reserve at one of the tackles, but at the present time he is challenging for a spot at guard or maybe even center.
Position Summary
Coach Josh Heupel found some crucial help in the transfer portal by adding Pendleton and Moe. These two transfers should anchor the interior of the blocking front. The offensive line recruiting over the past couple of years might be ready to pay some dividends and this group of redshirts have worked very hard in the weight room and on the practice field. Umarov might start at guard of Pendleton has to handle the center position. 

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