The SEC released its three preseason All-Conference teams on Friday following the conclusion of SEC Media Days. There was little Tennessee representation with just a pair of Volunteer players landing on the preseason teams.
Both defensive end James Pearce Jr. and center Cooper Mays landed on the first team but they were the Vols only representatives on any of the three teams.
Pearce is coming off a brilliant sophomore season where he totaled 27 tackles, 9.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. The talented edge rusher recorded the most sacks by a Tennessee player since Derek Barnett in 2016 and is looking to become the Vols’ first double-digit sack man since Barnett.
The 6-foot-5, 243-pound defensive end took over in three of Tennessee’s best wins during the 2024 season. Pearce recorded two sacks against South Carolina, one sack against Texas A&M and a sack, forced fumble and a pick six in the Vols’ Citrus Bowl win over Iowa. In all three games, Pearce lived in the opponents backfield.
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Mays is entering his super senior season in Tennessee’s program and has been the Vols’ starting center since the 2021 season. Injuries have hampered Mays throughout his career but he’s been an effective interior offensive lineman when he’s been able to stay healthy.
The Knoxville native’s importance was evident last year when Tennessee’s offensive line struggled badly early in the season when he was out of the lineup and improved greatly after he returned.
Tennessee is breaking in a number of key starters this season and there was no obvious player left off the All-SEC teams though it would be little surprise if guard Javontez Spraggins, defensive tackle Omari Thomas, running back Dylan Sampson or quarterback Nico Iamaleava landed on the All-SEC teams to end the season.
The Vols were the only team with exactly two players on the preseason All-SEC teams. Only Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt had less.
Alabama led the way with 16 players while Georgia had 15 and Texas had 12. The top three teams in the preseason poll were the only to land double-digit players on the All-SEC teams.
