BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Southeastern Conference announced Friday that two Tennessee football standouts earned preseason first team All-SEC recognition from the media at the conclusion of 2024 SEC Media Days in Dallas.
Senior center Cooper Mays was tabbed to the league’s first team on offense, while junior edge rusher James Pearce Jr. was selected to the defensive first team. Both Vols were recently recognized as preseason First Team All-Americans by the Walter Camp Football Foundation.
Tennessee was one of five schools in the conference with a first-team selection on both offense and defense, joining Alabama, Georgia, LSU and Ole Miss.
Mays enters his fifth year with the program and fourth as Tennessee’s starting center. The Kingston, Tennessee, native has paved the way for a record-setting offense, and he enters the campaign without allowing a sack in his last 14 games. Mays has played 2,075 career offensive snaps and issued only four sacks. He was the leader of an offensive line that was named semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award in 2023.
Pearce Jr. is one of the most explosive defensive players in the country. In two seasons, he has racked up 16.5 tackles for a loss of 87 yards, 12 sacks for a loss of 75 yards, 17 QB hurries, one interception for a touchdown, two pass breakups and two forced fumbles. The Charlotte native and 2023 first-team All-SEC recipient is the SEC’s returning statistical leader in both tackles for loss (14.5) and sacks (10).
Tennessee begins preseason camp on July 30 with its first practice scheduled for July 31.
2024 Tennessee Football Preseason Honors
Lance Heard, OL, So.
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Cooper Mays, C, Sr.
First-Team All-American (Walter Camp)
First-Team All-SEC (Media)
Second-Team All-SEC (Athlon, Phil Steele)
Bru McCoy, WR, R-Sr.
AFCA Good Works Team Nominee
Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Sr.
Third-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
James Pearce Jr., DE, Jr.
First-Team All-American (Athlon, Phil Steele, Walter Camp)
First-Team All-SEC (Athlon, Media, Phil Steele, Walter Camp)
Lott Trophy Watch List
Keenan Pili, LB, Sr.
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Jackson Ross, P, So.
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Dylan Sampson, RB, Jr.
Third-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Javontez Spraggins, OL, Sr.
Third-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Phil Steele)
Omari Thomas, DL, Sr.
Fourth-Team All-SEC (Athlon)
Squirrel White, WR, Jr.
Third-Team All-SEC (Athlon, Phil Steele)
