Glen Elarbee, the offensive line coach at Tennessee, faced criticism on social media earlier this week when some resentment erupted. Throughout this portal cycle, the Vols have been linked to a number of elite offensive lineman, but none of them have signed contracts. Although depth is a concern for Tennessee going into the 2024 season, they are still recruiting a few elite prospects.
The recruitment process and portal addictions, two factors that assistant coaches may not always have control over, are directly related to the discontent of Tennessee’s fan base. Even so, Elarbee led Tennessee in recruiting this cycle, bringing in a number of skilled offensive linemen who will likely contribute to the Vols in the future. All rankings are from the Composite of 247Sports.
Not even Jeremias Heard, a 6-9 defensive lineman who signed a three-star contract and may eventually play offensive tackle for Tennessee, is taken into consideration. Though he has only been playing football for a little over a year, Heard has already attracted the attention of elite programs throughout the country. However, he ended his recruitment early after receiving an offer from Tennessee. During the previous cycle, Elarbee also used the transfer portal to acquire Miami transfer John Campbell Jr., a plus starter for the Vols who will ultimately start for Tennessee at left tackle for two years.
Elarbee has demonstrated his ability to go out and get huge and high school bodies. Additionally, he was a key player on the field as Tennessee’s offensive line finished the season as a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, which is presented to the best offensive line in the country. The Vols had a couple bad pass protection games, but overall they were the best rushing assault in the SEC.
Ultimately, Elarbee ought to be assessed based on his performance on the field, rather than the opinions of others on the “big names” he chooses to include or exclude from the recruiting trail or portal. Finding outstanding offensive linemen is one thing, but developing them is quite another. Since coming to Rocky Top, Elarbee has done a fantastic job turning players—young or old—into SEC components for one of the nation’s most explosive attacks.