The SEC released its three Preseason Coaches All-SEC teams on Thursday afternoon with the 2024 football season just over one week away.
Four Tennessee football players landed on the three teams voted on by the coaches with defensive end James Pearce Jr and center Cooper Mays landing on the first team and running back Dylan Sampson and receiver Squirrel White landing on the third team.
Both Pearce and Mays landed on the media’s first team back in July but neither Sampson nor White landed on any of the three teams. Pearce and Mays have also frequently landed on All-American teams this preseason.
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 this season.
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.
White was Tennessee’s top receiver in a mediocre passing attack last season. The 5-foot-10 slot receiver caught 67 passes for 803 yards and two touchdowns.
The Vols receiving core is deeper entering the 2024 season and White could split playing time with Chas Nimrod in the slot this season. But Tennessee’s passing attack is poised to be better this season and could also lead to more opportunities for White.
Sampson is coming off a sophomore season where he totaled 604 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns on 106 carries. The versatile running back also totaled 175 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
After being a part of a three-headed monster in the backfield with Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small last season, Sampson is the top man in Tennessee’s running back room entering the 2024 season.
