KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – For the third consecutive season, Tennessee is one of 10 semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award, presented annually to college football’s most outstanding offensive line unit.
The Foundation For Teamwork unveiled the 10 semifinalists on Tuesday. The Volunteers are one of three SEC programs on the list, joining Alabama and Texas. Other semifinalists include: Army, Indiana, Iowa, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon and Tulane. Tennessee joins Oregon as the only programs to earn semifinalist honors three consecutive seasons (2022-24).
Presented since its inception in 2015, the Joe Moore Award has recognized elite offensive line units for their unparalleled toughness, effort, teamwork, consistency, technique and ability to finish.
“In a season marked by inconsistency, only a handful of units have truly begun to elevate their level of play,” said Cole Cubelic, lead college football analyst for SEC Network and Chairman of the Joe Moore Award Voting Committee. “This year has been unique—many of the units we expected to excel have struggled, and week-to-week performance has been oddly unpredictable at our position.”
Under the direction of Glen Elarbee, the Vols’ offensive line has paved the way and protected for an offense that is averaging 471.6 yards per game, which is third in the SEC and eighth in the FBS. They serve as catalyst for a rushing attack that leads the SEC for the second straight season, putting up 235.1 yards per game, which is also ninth in the FBS.
Only 18 percent of running plays against the Vols have seen contact at or behind the line of scrimmage, representing the ninth-lowest figure in the FBS. Opponents are averaging 2.66 seconds to pressure, a mark that is top 15 in the country.
Perhaps the most impressive performance came on the Third Saturday in October. The Vols rushed for 214 yards against current No. 9 Alabama in a 24-17 victory. That was the most rushing yardage allowed by the Crimson Tide all season.
Preseason All-American, Rimington and Outland Trophy candidate center Cooper Mays leads the group. Mays has not allowed a sack in 23 straight games. The veteran lineup with the most snaps includes guards Javontez Spraggins, Andrej Karic and Jackson Lampley, as well as tackles Lance Heard, John Campbell Jr. and Dayne Davis.
Three finalists for the Joe Moore Award will be unveiled on Tuesday, Dec. 3, following the completion of the regular season. Unlike in previous years, the 2024 Joe Moore Award selection will exclude conference championship game results due to the new playoff format. The award winner will be announced during a surprise visit to the winning university’s campus, scheduled for late December.
2024 Joe Moore Award Semifinalists
Alabama
Army
Indiana
Iowa
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Oregon
Tennessee
Texas
Tulane
