Tennessee Vols senior named one of college football's best under-the-radar players in 2024
One of the Tennessee Vols' most important players was named this week by 247Sports as the one of the best under-the-radar players in college football this season. Vols senior offensive lineman Cooper Mays was included on Thursday on 247Sports' list of top under-the-radar players in 2024. From 247Sports: Cooper Mays has been with Tennessee long […]
One of the Tennessee Vols' most important players was named this week by 247Sports as the one of the best under-the-radar players in college football this season.
Vols senior offensive lineman Cooper Mays was included on Thursday on 247Sports' list of top under-the-radar players in 2024.
From 247Sports: Cooper Mays has been with Tennessee long enough to feel like a fixture and is having another solid season, excelling in both run and pass blocking. The athletic center is adept at pulling and reaching the second level, leveraging his slightly undersized frame effectively. He remains strong in protection and hasn't allowed a sack this year.
Tennessee fans are well aware of how important Mays is to the Vols' offense. But he tends to fly under-the-radar compared to UT players like Nico Iamaleava, Dylan Sampson, Bru McCoy, Squirrel White, Dont'e Thornton, James Pearce, etc. Mays may not be scoring touchdowns or forcing turnovers, but he's just as important to Tennessee's success as anyone in the building.
And he's well-respected by his teammates.
"He's a bad dude," said Vols true freshman quarterback Jake Merklinger about Mays this week. "That's someone I really look up to on the team as a leader. He's tough as nails. He does everything right. He's really good."
Mays is nearing the end of his career on Rocky Top, but his legacy has already been written — the East Tennessee native will go down as one of the all-time greats that's suited up for the Vols.
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