Tennessee football offensive lineman Andrej Karic was denied his appeal for a medical waiver from the NCAA, meaning he has exhausted his eligibility and cannot return to the Vols for the 2025 season.
Karic has signed with Capital Sports Advisors, according to an Instagram post by the sports agency, and he preparing for the NFL Draft.
Karic’s departure means UT must further rebuild its offensive line.
Karic started all 13 games at left guard in the 2024 season as a fifth-year senior. He made a request for an additional season of eligibility with a medical waiver, citing the circumstances of his 2023 season.
In 2023, Karic started four games after transferring from Texas. Then he suffered a season-ending injury after playing only five plays in his fifth game that season, which forfeited his redshirt because he barely exceeded the four-game limit.
However, the NCAA denied his waiver, so the Vols will move on without him.
Who returns on Tennessee offensive line in 2025
Tennessee lost four starters on the offensive line who exhausted their eligibility: Karic, All-SEC center Cooper Mays, All-SEC right guard Javontez Spraggins and right tackle John Campbell.
Lance Heard returns at left tackle. David Sanders, the No. 1 tackle in the 2025 class, joins the mix to compete with young linemen at right tackle.
UT also added Arizona transfer Wendell Moe and Notre Dame transfer Sam Pendleton out of the transfer portal on the offensive line.
Moe started 27 games over three seasons at Arizona, mostly at left guard but also at right guard. He was an All-Pac-12 performer in 2023.
Pendleton started the first seven games of the 2024 season at guard for Notre Dame and served as a backup in the College Football Playoff. He also practiced at center for the Fighting Irish.
Plus, the Vols have stockpiled young offensive linemen who have played limited snaps. That includes William Satterwhite, who will compete at center after backing up Mays during his 2024 freshman season.
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.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Andrej Karic: Tennessee football OL denied NCAA waiver, won’t return in 2025
