Story by
4 Tennessee football options to replace injured OL Wendell Moe vs Auburn
- Story by
- 4 Tennessee football options to replace injured OL Wendell Moe vs Auburn
Tennessee football starting left guard Wendell Moe is out for the season with a lower-leg injury, and the Vols have already activated some replacement plans.
The question is which plan UT utilizes and how deep it can dig into the depth chart. Replacing Moe isn't an easy task.
Advertisement
Moe is arguably UT's most accomplished and experienced offensive lineman. He earned All-Pac 12 honors in 2023 at Arizona. He transferred to UT and earned All-SEC honors last season. He has played 44 games in his career with 42 starts.
The 17th-ranked Vols (3-1, 0-1 SEC) play Auburn (3-1, 1-1) on Oct. 3 (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) at Neyland Stadium. Here are some replacement plans for Moe at left guard.
Option 1: Sham Umarov, Donovan Haslam start at guard
In the loss against Texas on Sept. 26, Tennessee replaced Moe by moving Sham Umarov from right guard to left guard and inserting backup Donovan Haslam into the right guard spot. However, Umarov was listed as questionable on the initial SEC availability report on Sept. 30.
Advertisement
Umarov started 10 games at left guard last season, so he's comfortable there. Haslam, a West Virginia transfer, is a powerful 350-pounder with 40 games played in his career.
If Umarov is available against Auburn, this is the most likely option because offensive line coach Glen Elarbee values experience. But Umarov has been inconsistent this season and Haslam had miscommunication issues in the Texas game, so it's far from a foolproof plan.
Option 2: Jesse Perry moves from tackle to guard
Regardless of the combination, UT must play better in the interior offensive line.
Moving Jesse Perry from right tackle to right guard may solve part of that problem because one of UT's best lineman. He has started at both spots, and guard is probably his more natural position.
Advertisement
In this scenario, Umarov moves to left guard, Perry slides to right guard and LSU transfer Ory Williams starts at right tackle. Williams started two games at LSU last season, but he's been inconsistent as a backup this season.
Would starting Williams at right tackle solve a problem or create a new one? That's what UT must wrestle with when it considers this plan.
Option 3: Sam Pendleton returns to guard, his Notre Dame position
Starting center Sam Pendleton started seven games at left guard at Notre Dame in 2024, but he hasn't practiced there much at UT.
When Pendleton missed the season opener against Furman due to a suspension , sophomore Nic Moore made his first start at center. Moore, the former Jefferson County standout, played a solid game.
Advertisement
If Moore could play to a level comparable to Pendleton at center and then Pendleton become a viable option at guard, it would add flexibility in the middle. But UT would have to test that in practice before trying it in a game.
Option 4: Dig deeper into the depth chart
This is a Hail Mary and perhaps a late-season option, especially if the offensive line suffers additional injuries. After all, UT has eight SEC games remaining.
Elarbee believes UT's seven best offensive linemen are Sanders, Moe, Pendleton, Umarov, Perry, Haslam and Williams. But he might have to dig deeper if the right combination doesn't shake out.
Advertisement
Sophomore interior offensive lineman Antoni Ogumoro could get into the mix. He played 18 snaps against Furman and Kennesaw State. Junior Jeremias Heard played 27 snaps at tackle in those two games.
Freshman Gabriel Osenda, a former Chattanooga Baylor standout, was one of the top tackle prospects in the 2026 class. He played 11 snaps against Furman and Kennesaw State.
They're not immediate options, but the Vols might experiment with new combinations in practice.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com . X, formerly known as Twitter @AdamSparks . Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe .
Advertisement
Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: 4 Tennessee football options to replace injured OL Wendell Moe vs Auburn
