Last Thursday, Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel stopped short of saying that senior offensive lineman Cooper Mays would play against Florida. 

Heupel, however, strongly suggested that Mays would take the field against the Gators. 

“He’ll be going with us (to Florida),” said Heupel two days before Tennessee's game against the Gators. “He’s been really good all week long. Anticipate him being ready to play.”

“Conditioning is one thing but even before he was back on the grass with us there was a lot of things he was doing with our strength staff,” added Heupel. “The flow of the game will dictate a little bit (of how much he plays), how he’s feeling out there. That type of thing.”

Mays, who underwent a procedure during fall camp, ended up not playing against Florida. 

After the game, Heupel told reporters that the team didn't feel like Mays was ready to play his best football. 

At this point, considering how vague Heupel is when it comes to injury updates (there's no reason to put much stock in anything he says about injuries until you see a player actually playing), there's no telling when Mays will actually return to the field. 

Maybe he plays against UTSA. We just won't know until the game kicks off on Saturday — regardless of what's said about Mays' status later this week. 

If Mays doesn't play against UTSA and if he's not going to play against South Carolina the following week, then it's time for the Vols to reconsider their strategy at center. 

Before the season, it was noted by multiple reporters that Mays is the one offensive player that Tennessee can't afford to lose. Mays' knowledge of the offense and ability to communicate effectively is something the Vols have missed in a big way early this season. 

Ollie Lane, the sixth year senior who has played in place of Mays (along with offensive tackle Dayne Davis, who has also seen reps at center), had a rough game against Florida. From missed assignments to pre-snap penalties, it wasn't Lane's best game.

Considering the offensive line's struggles as a whole this season, it might be time for some changes. 

Tennessee might be wise to consider using right guard Javontez Spraggins at center while Mays is out (similar to how they used Jerome Carvin at center in 2021 when Mays was sidelined for five games). 

Spraggins has never started a game at center for the Vols, but he was rated by 247Sports as the No. 9 center in the nation in the 2020 recruiting class, so it's not like the position is foreign to him. 

The East St. Louis native is entering his third season in Josh Heupel's offense. He knows the offense well and as a future pro prospect, he should relish an opportunity to play center and prove his versatility. 

If the Vols try Spraggins at center, they could move Lane to right guard (he was repping at left guard before Mays' injury) or they could move Texas transfer Andrej Karic to right guard and put Lane at left guard. 

This isn't a foolproof plan that's guaranteed to work. But it's clear that keeping Lane at center while Mays is out isn't working out very well for Tennessee's offensive line. 

And even if Mays returns soon, which is the hope for the Vols, it would still be wise to develop a backup plan in case he's forced to miss additional time at some point during the season. 

Tennessee has been willing to think outside the box before (like when they tried Dayne Davis at center). Trying Spraggins at center is something they should at least explore. 

Josh Heupel wants Joe Milton to do something that he hasn’t done well as college player

Tennessee Vols HC Josh Heupel wants Joe Milton to do something that he hasn’t done well as college player

Featured image via Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK