Cooper Mays' return to Tennessee football in 2024 is more good news for Vols offensive line
Tennessee football center Cooper Mays will return for the 2024 season to utilize his final season of eligibility.
It's another dose of good news from UT's offensive line.
Starting tackles John Campbell and Gerald Mincey already announced they're returning next season. They'll protect five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who is expected to take over the starting job in 2024.
Mays announced his return on social media Friday, and said, "Back to finish what I started..."
Numbers 6:24-26 "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."
Back to finish what I started... pic.twitter.com/dMdXjjp0Of— Cooper Mays (@CooperMays) December 15, 2023
Cooper Mays, a 2023 All-SEC selection, is an NFL prospect. And his older brother, former UT offensive lineman Cade Mays, is a second-year player for the Carolina Panthers. But the younger Mays' pro career is on hold for one more year.
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Cooper Mays brings experience back to Tennessee football offensive line
Mays has played 39 games at UT with 31 starts. He has been the Vols’ center for all three seasons in coach Josh Heupel’s offense.
The former Knox Catholic standout played 10 games in 2020, eight games in 2021, 13 games in 2022 and eight games this season. He has one season of eligibility remaining because of a COVID-exempt year.
No. 21 Tennessee (8-4) plays No. 17 Iowa (10-3) in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1 (1 p.m. ET, ABC) in Orlando, Florida.
Cooper Mays joins others in returning to Tennessee football
Mays is the third offensive lineman to announce his return after Campbell and Mincey did so.
Campbell is coming back for a seventh year after playing five seasons at Miami. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound Campbell started in 10 games at left tackle in his first season at UT after transferring.
Mincey, a 6-foot-6, 337-pounder, transferred from Florida in 2022. He has played 21 games, with 13 starts, in the past two seasons. In 2022, he started at left tackle. In 2023, he moved to right tackle to make room for Campbell on the left side.
Defensive tackle Omari Thomas also announced his return. The Memphis native has played 47 games with 29 starts in his UT career.
In 2023, Thomas has a career-high 31 tackles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss, one sack, three quarterback hurries and one blocked kick.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football: Cooper Mays will return for UT Vols in 2024 season
