University of Tennessee Athletics
Moe Jr. Earns Spot on Lombardi Award Preseason Watch List
August 11, 2026 | Football
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee offensive lineman Wendell Moe Jr. continued to add to his impressive list of preseason honors on Tuesday when he was named to the 2026 Lombardi Award Preseason Watch List.
The Lombardi Award recognizes the nation's best linemen and linebackers and this year's watch list features 54 players from across the nation and includes a balanced mix of offensive and defensive standouts.
Moe Jr. was one of 16 players from the Southeastern Conference and one of 20 offensive linemen tabbed to this year's watch list.
The 2026 preseason All-American returns for his final collegiate season after making an immediate impact in his first year on Rocky Top last fall. Moe Jr. earned first-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press after starting 11 games and helping anchor one of the SEC's top offensive lines.
The veteran offensive guard has started 38 games during his collegiate career while playing more than 2,400 offensive snaps. He has allowed just two sacks in 40 career appearances and was previously named to the Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List, as well, entering the 2026 season.
The full preseason watch list for the 2026 Lombardi Award can be found HERE.
Dodd Trophy Watch List
RB DeSean Bishop
Maxwell Award Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon)
All-SEC Third Team (Media, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
LS Bennett Brady
Mannelly Award Watch List
All-SEC Third Team (Phil Steele)
LB Amare Campbell
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
LB Arion Carter
Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
All-SEC Third Team (Media, Athlon)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
TE Ethan Davis
John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DL Xavier Gilliam
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
OL Donovan Haslam
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DL Daevin Hobbs
All-SEC Third Team (Phil Steele)
DB Kayin Lee
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
WR Mike Matthews
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DB TJ Metcalf
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Wendell Moe Jr.
Lombardi Award Watch List
Outland Trophy Watch List
Walter Camp All-America Second Team
On3 All-America Third Team
Athlon All-America Third Team
All-SEC First Team (Athlon)
All-SEC Third Team (Media, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DB Qua Moss
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Jesse Perry
All-SEC First Team (Phil Steele)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
PK Cooper Ranvier
Lou Groza Award Watch List
DB Ty Redmond
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Athlon All-America Fourth Team
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
P Jackson Ross
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL David Sanders Jr.
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
All-SEC Third Team (Media)
LB Edwin Spillman
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
AFCA Allstate Good Works Team Nominee
WR Braylon Staley
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
LB Jeremiah Telander
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Shamurad Umarov
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
The Lombardi Award recognizes the nation's best linemen and linebackers and this year's watch list features 54 players from across the nation and includes a balanced mix of offensive and defensive standouts.
Moe Jr. was one of 16 players from the Southeastern Conference and one of 20 offensive linemen tabbed to this year's watch list.
The 2026 preseason All-American returns for his final collegiate season after making an immediate impact in his first year on Rocky Top last fall. Moe Jr. earned first-team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press after starting 11 games and helping anchor one of the SEC's top offensive lines.
The veteran offensive guard has started 38 games during his collegiate career while playing more than 2,400 offensive snaps. He has allowed just two sacks in 40 career appearances and was previously named to the Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List, as well, entering the 2026 season.
The full preseason watch list for the 2026 Lombardi Award can be found HERE.
Tennessee Football — 2026 Preseason Honors
Head Coach Josh HeupelDodd Trophy Watch List
RB DeSean Bishop
Maxwell Award Watch List
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon)
All-SEC Third Team (Media, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
LS Bennett Brady
Mannelly Award Watch List
All-SEC Third Team (Phil Steele)
LB Amare Campbell
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
LB Arion Carter
Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List
All-SEC Third Team (Media, Athlon)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
TE Ethan Davis
John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DL Xavier Gilliam
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
OL Donovan Haslam
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DL Daevin Hobbs
All-SEC Third Team (Phil Steele)
DB Kayin Lee
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
WR Mike Matthews
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DB TJ Metcalf
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Wendell Moe Jr.
Lombardi Award Watch List
Outland Trophy Watch List
Walter Camp All-America Second Team
On3 All-America Third Team
Athlon All-America Third Team
All-SEC First Team (Athlon)
All-SEC Third Team (Media, Phil Steele)
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
DB Qua Moss
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Jesse Perry
All-SEC First Team (Phil Steele)
All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon)
PK Cooper Ranvier
Lou Groza Award Watch List
DB Ty Redmond
Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Athlon All-America Fourth Team
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
P Jackson Ross
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL David Sanders Jr.
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
All-SEC Third Team (Media)
LB Edwin Spillman
Allstate Wuerffel Trophy Watch List
AFCA Allstate Good Works Team Nominee
WR Braylon Staley
All-SEC Second Team (Athlon, Phil Steele)
LB Jeremiah Telander
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
OL Shamurad Umarov
East-West Shrine Bowl 1000
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
LS
/ Football
LB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
DL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
PK
/ Football
DB
/ Football
P
/ Football
OL
/ Football
LB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
LB
/ Football
OL
/ FootballTuesday, August 11
Tuesday, August 11
Tuesday, August 11
Tuesday, August 11
