Tennessee Volunteers Shock SEC with Blockbuster O-Line Upgrade as Wendell Moe Jr. (Utah) and Sam Pendleton (Notre Dame) Join Forces on Rocky Top While Arkansas’ Coaching Fantasy Crashes

DOUBLE DOSE OF DOMINANCE: Tennessee Volunteers Shock SEC with Blockbuster O-Line Upgrade as Wendell Moe Jr. (Utah) and Sam Pendleton (Notre Dame) Join Forces on Rocky Top While Arkansas’ Coaching Fantasy Crashes — Dave Van Horn Shuts Down Razorback Nation’s Tony Vitello Dreams with Firm Statement of Loyalty

 

Knoxville, TN — In a wild and dramatic day for SEC football and baseball fans alike, the Tennessee Volunteers have officially landed two massive commitments from the NCAA transfer portal, bolstering their offensive line with a pair of high-caliber talents: Wendell Moe Jr., a trench-tested starter from Utah, and Sam Pendleton, a rising interior force who began his collegiate journey at Notre Dame.

 

Simultaneously, a swirl of speculation surrounding Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello was emphatically put to rest when Arkansas head coach Dave Van Horn reaffirmed his own commitment to the Razorbacks — delivering a sharp dose of reality to the dreams of Razorback fans who hoped Vitello might be swayed to Fayetteville.

 

Together, the two developments mark a pivotal moment for Tennessee athletics — reinforcing dominance on the gridiron while preserving elite leadership on the diamond.

 

 

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Moe Jr. and Pendleton: A Game-Changing Duo for Tennessee’s Offensive Front

 

For head coach Josh Heupel and offensive line coach Glen Elarbee, the 2025 offseason has been about more than just reloading — it’s about redefining power in the trenches, and today’s haul of Moe and Pendleton does exactly that.

 

Wendell Moe Jr., a 6’3”, 330-pound interior lineman from the University of Utah, brings Pac-12 battle-tested strength, quick hands, and elite run-blocking instincts to a Tennessee line looking to become a fortress for the Vols’ up-tempo attack.

 

He started 13 games for Utah in 2024 and was graded as one of the top run-blockers in the Pac-12, earning praise from scouts for his footwork and physicality.

 

> “Wendell brings SEC-level grit. He’s a tone-setter,” said one Utah assistant. “Tennessee’s getting a nasty mauler who’s hungry to prove himself in the best conference in football.”

 

 

 

Joining Moe is Sam Pendleton, a former four-star recruit out of North Carolina who redshirted his freshman season at Notre Dame but quickly drew attention with his maturity and explosive get-off in spring practices.

 

At 6’4”, 310 pounds, Pendleton projects as a plug-and-play guard or center, offering positional flexibility and long-term upside for a Vols team that plans to rotate depth aggressively in 2025.

 

> “This is a dream fit,” Pendleton said on social media. “The moment I stepped onto Rocky Top, I knew this was where I belonged.”

 

 

 

Tennessee fans erupted across social platforms, celebrating what many are calling “The Moe-Pendleton Wall.” With top quarterback talent already in the fold, these additions give Tennessee the kind of interior strength that could vault them into playoff contention.

 

 

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The Razorback Rumor Ends: Tony Vitello Staying Put, Dave Van Horn Staying True

 

While Tennessee was winning big on the football front, Razorback Nation was stuck in an emotional rollercoaster.

 

For weeks, rumors swirled that Arkansas — reeling after another disappointing postseason baseball exit — might be lining up a dream hire in Tony Vitello, the dynamic and wildly successful head coach of Tennessee baseball. A former assistant under Van Horn in Fayetteville, Vitello’s name ignited passionate debates among Arkansas fans desperate for a new chapter.

 

But on Monday afternoon, Dave Van Horn, Arkansas’ long-serving skipper, shut down the noise in definitive fashion:

 

> “I’m not going anywhere. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again — this is my program, and I’m committed to bringing another title home to Fayetteville,” Van Horn said. “I love Tony like a son, but Razorback Baseball is in the right hands.”

 

 

 

Meanwhile, Vitello, who led the Vols to the 2024 College World Series championship game, brushed off speculation with his trademark intensity.

 

> “I’m building something special here in Knoxville,” Vitello said. “Why would I leave what we’re building with these guys, with this fanbase? We’re just getting started.”

 

 

 

With Van Horn shutting down Arkansas’ version of “Vitello-mania,” Tennessee fans can exhale, knowing their baseball prodigy isn’t going anywhere.

 

 

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Tennessee’s Momentum Is Becoming Unstoppable

 

Between the massive football transfer additions and the confirmation that Vitello remains locked in for the long term, Tennessee Athletics is riding an electric wave of momentum heading into the 2025-2026 season.

 

From top-tier recruiting classes to championship-caliber facilities, Tennessee is rapidly emerging as the most well-rounded athletic powerhouse in the SEC — and possibly in the entire country.

 

> “When you look at what’s happening in Knoxville — football, baseball, softball, even basketball — this place is becoming a magnet for winners,” said SEC Network’s Peter Burns.

 

 

 

Wendell Moe Jr. and Sam Pendleton could very well be the final pieces in Tennessee’s bid to own the SEC trenches. And with Tony Vitello still calling the shots from the third-base line, Tennessee’s dominance isn’t just secure — it’s expanding.

 

Vol Nation is no longer rebuilding. They’re reinforcing. They’re reloading. And now, they’re ready to reign.