The Tennessee Vols managed to secure a road victory against the Oklahoma Sooners this past weekend, despite being without a key player—sophomore left tackle Lance Heard.
Heard, who transferred from LSU to Tennessee during the offseason, was initially expected to play against the Sooners after missing the previous week’s game against Kent State due to an ankle injury. VolQuest’s Austin Price had even reassured fans on *104.5 The Zone* that Heard would be ready for the Oklahoma game.
“Lance Heard, I was told, could’ve played against Kent State,” Price explained. “But with the slight ankle injury, there was no need to rush him back. It was all about treatment leading up to Oklahoma, and I was told he would be fine.”
However, Heard’s unexpected absence from the lineup sparked immediate speculation, with some suggesting that the issue could be tied to NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deals. Given the increasing role of NIL in college football, rumors quickly circulated that there were financial problems delaying Heard’s participation.
But, according to *Off the Hook*’s Dave Hooker, there are no NIL issues involving Heard.
“One well-placed source at Tennessee confirmed that financial terms are taken care of well before any player hits the field in preseason camp,” wrote Hooker, debunking the conspiracy theory.
Under head coach Josh Heupel, Tennessee has largely stayed clear of any public NIL drama, and this situation with Heard appears to be no different. Although his absence was surprising, it’s not uncommon for players to sit out due to nagging injuries like an ankle sprain. Heard’s situation—being cleared to play but not making the trip—isn’t unprecedented in college football.
Heupel also addressed the situation on Wednesday, saying he expects Heard to return for Tennessee’s matchup against Arkansas on October 5, after the team’s bye week.
With Tennessee sitting at 4-0 and Heard expected to be healthy moving forward, the Vols are in a strong position. Despite the absence of the former five-star recruit against Oklahoma, the team has continued to thrive. Not every situation warrants conspiracy theories; sometimes, an ankle injury is just that—an injury.
