Returning center Cooper Mays has been named to the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy, awarded to the nation’s top offensive or defensive interior lineman at the end of the season. Mays is one of 75 players named to the watch list and one of 18 players from the SEC noted as names to watch.
𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 👀@CooperMays has been named to the @outlandtrophy Watchlist.
📰 » https://t.co/0WRfnhwc33#GBO 🍊 pic.twitter.com/Y7sYLTkZaU
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) July 30, 2024
Mays enters his fifth season with the Volunteers overall and his fourth season as the starting center, this time, helping smooth another quarterback transition. Tennessee redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava will be the fifth different signal caller that Mays has started for. In the 2023 season, Mays missed the first four games of the season due to injury but was stout the rest of the way as he tallied over 500 snaps with no allowed sacks and only one quarterback hit. Over his career, Mays has allowed only a total of four sacks.
This was not the first preseason award from the Tennessee native as he was voted onto the first team for the SEC’s all-conference teams and was also named a preseason All-American.
More From RTI: Pair Of Tennessee Football Players Land On Preseason All-SEC Teams
Mays has proven his value time and time again. When the Vols’ veteran went down with with injury, the offensive line as a whole seemed to struggle. If Mays can stay on the field, he will be a key factor in a high-powered Tennessee offense. This will be Mays’ last season of eligibility to improve his draft stock, as he looks to join his brother Cade – a fellow Tennessee veteran – in the NFL.
The Outland Trophy semifinalists will be named on November 20th, and the finalists will be announced on November 26th. All names to watch for the Outland Trophy can be found here.
