Published Apr 4, 2025
Why Wendell Moe Jr. could be 'great asset' to Tennessee offensive line
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Noah Taylor  •  VolReport
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Jaxson Moi doesn't remember all of the details, just that his Stanford team lost.

He remembers Wendell Moe Jr., too.

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Two years ago, Moi was a sophomore defensive lineman for the Cardinal. Moe was a redshirt freshman offensive lineman at Arizona. The two teams played in Palo Alto with Moe's Wildcats escaping with a 21-20 triumph.

Moi couldn't recall the final score. Moe could.

"They were holding us and holding on to everything, they were about to take it but we ended up taking that dub," Moe said.

"They beat us," Moi added. "I've known who (Moe) was for awhile. He's a great player."

A couple of years, one conference and nearly the length of continent later, Moe and Moi are still squaring off--now as teammates in Tennessee's spring football practices.

The 6-foot-2, 325-pound Moe joined the Vols as a transfer in December, a needed addition to an offensive line that was about to lose three veteran starters in Cooper Mays, Javontez Spraggins and John Campbell Jr.

"He's a beast," Moi said. "He's strong, physical, violent hands. Just going against him every day makes me a better player. I'm glad that we have him on our team. He's going to be a great asset for us."

Moe appeared in four games as a freshman at Arizona, starting three of them. He started 13 games at left guard the following season and made 11 starts last year, mainly on the left side but started two games on the right.

The Vols have to replace both Andrej Karic and Jackson Lampley, who both played left guard last season. Spraggins left a void to feel on the right, but Moe has taken reps at both this spring.

Moe has adjusted, too. He played in an up-tempo offense at Arizona early in his career and was quick for his size before arriving at Tennessee. But now he's down nearly 20 pounds and is even quicker.

Moe prefers it that way.

"This last year (at Arizona) with the coaching staff, (the offense) kind of changed but I’m excited to get back to tempo," Moe said. "That’s one of the main reasons I came here. I like running tempo and I like getting to the ball and running plays fast.”

MORE FROM VOLREPORT: Edwain Spillman ready for increased role in second year at Tennessee

That quick adjustment has a lot to do with Moe's study habits. He has impressed the coaching staff in that regard, taking detailed notes and asking questions.

As spring practices near their end, Moe is getting firmer grasp on the playbook because of it.

"The thing that you saw on tape, but didn't know until you got him was he has a real sixth sense for the game, really good at adjusting on the fly and understands," Tennessee offensive line coach Glen Elarbee said. "Credit it to him too, probably the most meticulous note taker we have in the meeting room. Like we used his notebook, sort as an example when we did notebook checks.

"The way he approaches the game. He had a little issue trying to get into health wise, but now he is rolling full speed. He is doing phenomenal."

Perhaps the most ringing endorsement Moe has received since joining the Vols has been from the player he has to protect the most: second-year starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

Like Moi, Iamaleava knew who Moe was long before they linked up in Knoxville. In fact, Iamaleava and Moe are teammates for the second time.

The two were on the same Long Beach Poly team when Iamaleava was a freshman and Moe a junior in 2019. Iamleava transferred to Warren High School the following season, but he was still aware of Moe.

"I always knew Moe as a dog," Iamaleava said. "He's a dog and he's going to hit somebody. I'm glad we have him on our team and can't wait to see him work too."

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