Cooper Mays Named To Rimington Trophy Watch List

Tennessee Volunteers center Cooper Mays has earned preseason recognition as one of the nation’s top centers heading into 2023.

Cooper Mays was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List for the nation’s top center on Friday. The senior from Knoxville was one of six SEC players named to the list, including the possible favorite to bring it home, Sedrick Van Pran of Georgia, who many have as the top center prospect in next year’s NFL Draft. 

In addition to Van Pran, Mays will have stiff competition from 38 other centers across ten conferences. It is of note that Texas A&M’s Bryce Foster was named to the list as the only underclassman across the 40 centers. Michigan’s Olusegun Oluwatimi won the award last season but has since departed for the NFL after his grad senior season.

Tennessee C Cooper Mays during spring camp in Knoxville, Tennessee, on April 5, 2023. (Photo by Caitie McMekin of the News Sentinel)

Entering his senior season, Mays has already proven a lot at Tennessee. The brother and son of Tennessee offensive linemen has allowed just four sacks in over 1,500 snaps. He has played in 31 games across three seasons, including 23 starts. Mays started each and every one of the Vols’ contests in 2022, and Joe Milton III and Tennessee would love for him to be that steady presence again in 2023. Tennessee’s offensive line was collectively a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award given to the nation’s top offensive line unit last season. To close the season, Mays did not allow a sack in the final five matchups, looking to continue that great play into this year. 

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