Tennessee offensive lineman Jackson Lampley will return for his sixth season, he announced Friday.

It gives UT depth and another veteran option on the offensive line.

Lampley has played 38 games for the Vols, mostly on special teams. He played well at right guard in the first two starts of his career, against Vanderbilt and Iowa in the Citrus Bowl to finish the 2023 season.

Lampley could serve as a valuable backup at right guard or compete for the starting left guard spot. Ollie Lane exhausted his eligibility, so his position is vacant. Freshman Vysen Lang, part-time starter Andrej Karic or a transfer are other possibilities at left guard.

"Tennessee is my home. Tennessee is my family, and Tennessee is who I am," Lampley posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. "I could not be more excited about the future of this program. That is why I am coming back for my sixth and final season of college football, and I am coming back to Tennessee."

Lampley is a Nashville native and former Montgomery Bell Academy standout. His father, Brad, played on the offensive line for the Vols in the mid-1990s.

Lampley is the fourth UT offensive lineman to announce he will utilize a COVID-exempt year and return.

Center Cooper Mays, starting tackle John Campbell and reserve tackle Dayne Davis also announced they’re coming back. Starting right guard Javontez Spraggins is expected to return, but he hasn’t announced his decision.

Their return is critical as quarterback Nico Iamaleava, a former five-star recruit and Citrus Bowl MVP, takes over as the starter.

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: Tennessee football offensive lineman Jackson Lampley returning in 2024