Tennessee Vols offensive coordinator Alex Golesh subtly revealed on Wednesday during a media appearance at the Music City Bowl in Nashville that he wants offensive lineman Cade Mays back on Rocky Top in 2022.

Golesh made several references on Wednesday to the Vols waiting on "one more" player to make a decision about his future.

“It’s in a lot of ways super humbling that those guys want to come back, I think Cedric Tillman, Hendon Hooker, obviously have a future, still waiting on one more here, but have a future at the next level," said Golesh in a response to a question about high profile players returning to Tennessee for one more season.

The "still waiting on one more" comment was an obvious reference to Mays, who won't play against Purdue on Thursday due to injury.

Golesh didn't stop there.

"I think those guys (tight ends Princeton Fant and Jacob Warren, two players who also announced their return to UT recently) have done a good job getting themselves there and splitting the reps at that position and hopefully we can become more multiple as both those guys continue to grow and evolve within the system," said Golesh. "Still have one more we’re waiting on and that would give us a really good nucleus coming back a year from now."

It seems obvious that Golesh badly wants Mays to come back for his final season of eligibility — especially after the UT offensive coordinator praised Mays for his leadership on Wednesday.

"We were hoping Cade could play, still nursing the ankle," said Golesh. "We will see where his future ends up."

"Obviously Cade’s a huge loss," added Golesh. "He’s played so much football for us, his leadership, all the things that he’s done."

It definitely seems like Golesh was trying to send a subtle message to Mays this week.

I still think it's unlikely that Mays returns to Tennessee, but it also doesn't appear that a decision has been made yet. If Mays returns to the Vols, he could play one final season with his brother, Cooper, while also improving his draft stock and earning himself more NFL money.

Sometimes the decision to leave for the NFL is the right decision for a player. In Mays' case, however, it certainly feels like coming back to Tennessee for one more season would be the correct decision for his situation.

Golesh obviously agrees.

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